The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s decision to absorb GHC2 from every litre of diesel for one month, arguing that the intervention offers little real relief to consumers and partially refunds what has already been collected through the GHC1 fuel levy to consumers.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, August 5, Co-Chair of the NPP’s Policy Committee on Energy, George Kwame Aboagye said the subsidy does not ease the financial burden on households and businesses.
According to him, even if the full GHC2 reduction is reflected at fuel pumps, diesel prices would still remain about 11.4 per cent higher than they were in January 2025.
“Even if the full GHC2 reduction is passed through the pumps, diesel will still stand about 11.4% above its January 2025 level. So, let us be accurate about what this intervention is. It does not reverse it and it does not return households and businesses to where they stood 18 months ago,” he said.
The NPP argued that the one-month intervention is not a relief but a temporary return of funds already collected from consumers through the GHC1 fuel levy introduced over a year ago.
Mr. Aboagye estimated that the measure would result in about GHC400 million in foregone revenue, insisting that the government must explain how it intends to finance the intervention.
“The GHC2 reduction is not generosity; it is a partial temporary return of money already taken from consumers.”
The party has therefore called on the government to provide details on which taxes, levies or fuel margins are being reduced to fund the relief, whether the estimated revenue loss has been factored into the 2026 Budget, and what expenditure cuts will be made to offset the cost.
It also wants assurances that transport fares and prices of essential goods will reflect the diesel price reduction, clarification on whether the GHC1 per litre levy will remain in place during the intervention period, and the criteria that will determine whether the subsidy is extended, withdrawn or replaced.
