Dennis Miracles Aboagye, aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has launched a scathing critique of the Mahama administration over the newly introduced Dumsor levy, accusing it of deceiving the public and mismanaging the country’s energy crisis.

Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews on Saturday, 7th June, he described the levy as a betrayal of public trust.

“It is a betrayal of trust. The situation we find ourselves in is simply a clueless, everlasting incompetent bunch of arrogant braggarts who have simply scammed their way into government, and we won’t allow them to gaslight Ghanaians,” Aboagye asserted, in reference to the GH¢1 per litre surcharge on petroleum products approved by Parliament under the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The bill, introduced under a certificate of urgency, aims to raise funds to address the energy sector’s ballooning debt, which Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson pegged at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.

He added that a further US$3.7 billion is needed to clear the debt fully, alongside US$1.2 billion to secure fuel for thermal power production throughout the year.

However, the Minority in Parliament and several critics, including Mr Aboagye, have slammed the move as a "predatory tax" that could drain over GH¢5.7 billion from consumers annually.

They are demanding transparency and accountability regarding the usage of the funds, accusing the government of pushing the legislation through without adequate consultation or justification.