Government is seeking to impose 1 cedi levy on prices of all petroleum products to raise revenue to avert the possible collapse of the country’s energy sector, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ato Forson has said.
The minister, who laid the Energy Sector Levy Ammendment Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, said the cash inflows into government coffers will allow it to address the burdening energy sector debts.
Dr. Forson said he did not expect Ghanaians to pay more for petroleum products as a result of the cedi gains.
“To help raise additional revenue to fund the needs in the power sector, the government is proposing an increase in export price of petrol, diesel and related products. The impact will be absorbed by the gains made from the strong performance of the Ghana cities. Mr. Speaker, I repeat, the impact will be absorbed by the gains made from the strong performance of the Ghana cedis,” he remarked in the House.
He disclosed that Ghana’s debt stock in the energy sector currently stood at $3.1 million, emphasizing the need for funds to defray it.
For his part, Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin accused the government of deception.
According to him contrary to assurances by the finance minister of no additional taxes in the 2025 budget, Ghanaians have been hit with a new levy which he described as e-levy.
However, Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga rejected the assertion that the move is reintroduction of the scrapped E-levy.
He said it was part of efforts to address the intermittent power supply popularly known as dumsor.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
