This Saturday on Newsfile, host Samson Lardy Anyenini and his panelists are discussing the introduction of the GH¢1 fuel levy on petroleum products.

Parliament approved the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing a GH¢1 per litre surcharge on petroleum products. The controversial bill, intended to raise additional revenue to address the nation's crippling energy sector debt and ensure stable power supply.

The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who laid the bill under a certificate of urgency, stated that the energy sector's total indebtedness stands at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.

He further explained that a minimum of US$3.7 billion is required to fully clear this debt, with an additional US$1.2 billion needed to procure essential fuel for thermal power generation throughout 2025.

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has strongly condemned the levy, labelling it a "predatory tax" that will drain approximately GH¢5.7 billion annually from households and businesses. They are demanding full disclosure of how these funds will be collected and spent, warning that the legislation was hurried through under a certificate of urgency without sufficient transparency or stakeholder engagement.

Also on the show, the panel will be discussing Ken Ofori-Atta being declared ‘wanted’ again by the OSP. Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori‑Atta, was once again declared wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) after missing the June 2 deadline to appear before the office.

The OSP reinstated his status and signalled immediate steps toward requesting an INTERPOL Red Notice following the failure of his legal team to persuade authorities with medical documentation citing cancer. In addition, the OSP formally initiated procedures to notify INTERPOL, marking a significant escalation in the legal process.

On Thursday, June 5, Ken Ofori-Atta was officially listed on INTERPOL’s Red Notice database. The Red Notice describes Ofori-Atta as a 65-year-old Ghanaian male, born on November 7, 1959, in Accra. He is 1.7 metres tall with black hair and black eyes and speaks both English and Twi.

The show will explore the implications of the newly introduced GH¢1 levy on petroleum products, including claims that it amounts to a "Dumsor levy." It will also look at the decision by the Office of the Special Prosecutor to declare Ken Ofori-Atta 'wanted' again and placing him on an INTERPOL Red Notice over allegations of using public office for profit.

Tune in to Newsfile this Saturday as the panel breaks down these critical national issues with insight and clarity.

Newsfile airs live on the JoyNews channel on digital satellite channels 421 on DSTV and 144 on GoTV, and streams on JoyNews’ Facebook or YouTube channels on Saturdays from 9 am to noon.

Viewers can also follow the discussion by tuning in to Joy 99.7 FM or Luv 99.5 FM on the radio or stream the discussion live on either Google or Apple Podcasts.

Newsfile is your most authoritative news analysis programme.

Below is the livestream