Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has intensified calls for the immediate withdrawal of the recently implemented GH¢1 per litre fuel levy, warning that it is already leading to increases in fuel prices and validating the Minority’s earlier warnings.
Speaking in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday, July 16, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah strongly criticized the government for what he described as a lack of transparency and due diligence in pushing the levy through Parliament.
“We continue to encourage the government to drop this levy,” he stated. “The reasons that we gave several weeks ago when they first smuggled it through—which reasons they dismissed—are gradually bearing themselves out.”
The controversial levy, which officially took effect today, was introduced by the government as part of measures to support Ghana’s struggling power sector. However, the policy has come under intense criticism from the Minority in Parliament and stakeholders in the transport and petroleum sectors, who argue that it is ill-timed and burdensome to consumers already grappling with high living costs.
Oppong Nkrumah, a former Information Minister, noted that despite government assurances that the levy would not lead to price hikes, the reality on the ground paints a different picture.
“The Energy Minister said this was an example of ‘smart, innovative’ policymaking. But we drew their attention that the maths was bad, and that if you introduce this levy, prices could go up by an average of about 8%,” he explained.
“Even after they suspended it a number of times, you are beginning to observe that as they are beginning to introduce the levy, fuel prices are going to go up by that 8% that we mentioned.”
Transport unions and civil society groups have also expressed frustration with the timing of the levy, warning that it could further escalate inflation and worsen the cost of transportation and basic goods.
The government has yet to respond to the renewed call for withdrawal, but pressure is mounting as consumers begin to feel the impact at fuel pumps across the country.
Oppong Nkrumah’s remarks signal a deepening rift over the government’s economic management approach, with the Minority vowing to keep the issue in the public spotlight until the levy is scrapped.
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