The Minority in Parliament has embarked on a nationwide demonstration to register their displeasure over the passage of the controversial Energy Sector Recovery and Debt Repayment Levy.
In a press conference on Monday, June 9, 2025, the minority described the new levy as a draconian and unjust tax measure, calling for its abolishment.
The caucus maintained that the Mahama administration is deliberately turning a deaf ear to the wailings of Ghanaians.
To address the imminent impact of the new levy on Ghanaians, the minority has outlined a number of actions they intend to take to resist the implementation of the bill and demand greater accountability of the government, which includes a nationwide demonstration.
“It is already clear that the government intends to go ahead with the implementation of this draconian levy,” the caucus indicated.
“We want to advertise that we would be embarking on the following: We will continuously engage the people of Ghana, civil society groups, driver unions, and the media to showcase the true impact of these draconian taxes and the negative levy that the government is imposing on us.”
The new levy was announced in Parliament by the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who noted that the debt accumulated in the Energy sector has necessitated the passage of the bill. According to him, the Energy sector is being swallowed with $3.1 billion and its compounding interests.
Some Unions, including the Ghana Road and Transport Unions (GPRTU) and the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, have kicked against the levy since its announcement.
In supporting the aggrieved unions, the minority caucus said, “We would continue to stand with groups of honest Ghanaians, the driver unions, the Chamber of Oil Marketers who are opposing the levy or asking government to pull back and to engage better—not to go by this midnight introduction into Parliament and using their numbers to push it through.”
“We know the government has a lot of goodwill, but this is not the way to do things.”
The Minority cautioned that the new levy would worsen the already heavy tax burden on fuel, pushing the total tax component at the pump to approximately 26%.
“We will continue to stand in solidarity with the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies in their position that this downstream sector is already heavily over-taxed,” the caucus reiterated.
“If you add this new levy, effectively about 26% of what you are paying at the pump is all taxes,” they indicated.
The bill was initially scheduled to be implemented on Monday, June 9, 2025, but has been rescheduled to Monday, June 16, 2025, after a stakeholder engagement with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the National Petroleum Authority, and the Ghana Revenue Authority was conducted.
