Energy expert Samson Addae has asked Ghanaians to exercise restraint in how they are negatively criticising the government following the approval of the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing a GH¢1 levy on petroleum products.
He opined that the news of the Ghc1 tax per litre of fuel is not surprising.
According to him, if the cedi continues to appreciate against the dollar, it will certainly affect the prices of petroleum products at the pumps, which in turn minimises any impact on drivers.
Samson Addae posited that the new tax was a necessary measure in addressing the challenges confronting the energy sector.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, while the levy may not be popular, the continuous stabilisation of the cedi will minimise any negative impact.
In his view, the GHC 1 introduced is a practical move given the country’s current economic conditions and energy sector debt.
He said we have witnessed price reductions on fuel about eight times, and so the announced Gh₵1 came at the most appropriate time.
He explained that the GHC1 may change depending on the cost of fuel, saying, “This may vary. The Ghc1 will remain for a while. If the cedi fails to maintain its gains and fuel costs rise, the government may consider reducing the Gh₵1 to 50 pesewas, 30 pesewas, or scrapping it entirely. There’s also the possibility that by the time we get there, the government will have made some money and used it to pay down some of our energy-related debt”.
He maintained that the energy sector’s total indebtedness stood at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025, as announced by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and that we would need to pay by any means necessary to prevent the energy sector’s collapse.
Although he supported the move, he advised the current government to use the proceeds from the Ghc 1 per litre tax for the intended purpose.
He warned that we should not repeat the mistake of misusing these funds, as was done with the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA).
He stated that the ESLA funds were not used for their intended purpose, which is what led us to this point.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
