Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, is demanding from the government to withdraw the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025, which puts GHC1 on each petroleum product.
The lawmaker believes the indefinite postponement of the levy popularly called the ‘dumsor levy’ is a shameful retreat.
In a statement issued by the Effutu Member of Parliament Saturday, June 14, 2025, he said “this postponement is not a solution. It is a shameful retreat that exposes this government’s incompetence and hypocrisy.”
His statement follows a communication from the Ghana Revenue Authority indicating the government’s decision to indefinitely suspended the implementation of the levy which was supposed to take effect today, Monday, June 16, 2025.
But according to the Minority Leader, the postponement only reflects the poor planning and execution of the levy.
“It shows they didn’t consult properly. They rushed the law, and now they’re forced to backtrack. That’s trial-and-error governance,” he said.
Chastising the government further, Afenyo-Markin said the NDC criticised the erstwhile NPP administration for relying on external shocks to put Ghanaians through hardship, but has resorted to same after taking over the government.
“This is the same administration that berated us for pointing to global shocks like COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. Now they are using the Middle East crisis as an excuse? That is the height of political dishonesty.”
“President Mahama promised to bring relief, not more taxes. Yet here we are, with a government that wants to tax fuel during an economic crisis. It’s unacceptable,” he added.
The Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025, according to the government, was supposed to help stabilise the power sector and service legacy debts.
However, Afenyo-Markin believes the reasoning for the levy wasn’t adequately justified, stressing that the postponement is just to divert attention from the backlash the government has received so far.
“Akufo-Addo ran a stable power sector without burdening Ghanaians with more taxes. Why can’t this government do the same? Don’t use the delay to buy time or blame the power crisis on our call to repeal the law. The worsening dumsor is your doing, not because the tax is suspended,” he claimed.
The former Board Chairman of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) further indicated that the real problem with the power sector is the distribution company, which is the ECG, and called for reforms for the sector.
“There are expired meters still in use. People are consuming power without paying because of defective systems. It’s not tax money we need — it’s reforms.”
“You have companies ready to supply meters, but the programme is frozen. Meanwhile, communities are crying for meters. Where is the leadership?,” he asked.
He called on Parliament to repeal the levy under certificate of urgency to completely do away with it.
“We demand a certificate of urgency to reverse this cruel policy completely. Any half measure will not be accepted — not by us, not by the people.”
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