The Minority Caucus in Parliament, on Monday, June 9, opposed the newly introduced eight per cent (8%) energy levy, also known as the Dumsor levy, on petroleum products, equivalent to GH¢1 per litre, as passed by Parliament.

They described the action as a “betrayal of public trust” and “hypocrisy of the highest order.”

“We will not impose taxes to pay for the energy-sector debt,” Mr George Kwame Aboagye, the Ranking on the Energy Committee of Parliament, quoted Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, during the 2025 budget presentation.

“However, the NDC government has gone ahead to impose the levy,” Mr Abogye said.

Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps in Parliament House, Accra, Mr Aboagye highlighted differences between the E-Levy and the Dumsor Levy.

He noted that the E-Levy was advertised in the budget and underwent public consultations, while the Dumsor Levy was “smuggled through” Parliament without notice. “E-Levy had a 1 per cent effective rate, while the Dumsor Levy is 8 per cent per transaction, E-Levy exempted transactions below GH¢100, while the Dumsor Levy has no minimum threshold,” he said.

Mr Aboagye, also the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Asene-Manso Akroso, told the Press that while E-Levy had limited cascading effect, the Dumsor Levy would affect prices of transportation and goods.

On his part, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Ranking Member on the Economy and Development Committee of Parliament, proposed alternative solutions to address the energy sector debt.

He called for the renegotiation of Power Purchase Agreements to eliminate off-book debts, improvement of efficiency in GRIDCO and ECG operations.

“There should be an investment in renewable energy to reduce fuel importation,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah said.

He noted that the Caucus would engage Ghanaians, CSOs, and the media to highlight the negative impact of the Dumsor levy.

“We will stand in solidarity with driver unions and oil marketing companies opposing the levy and advocate for the withdrawal of the levy and adoption of more pragmatic options,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah, NPP MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi said.