Ghana’s Revenue Authority has delayed the rollout of a contentious GHC1-per-litre fuel levy after facing strong opposition from oil marketing companies concerned about rising fuel prices and the burden on consumers.
Originally slated to take effect on Monday, 9 June, the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy will now be implemented on 16 June, following what the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) called “cordial and constructive” discussions with industry stakeholders.
“The Association has concerns with the 9 June implementation date,” the GRA said in a statement. “We have discussed with their leadership in the spirit of cordiality and partnership and have agreed a new start date of 16 June.”
The levy forms part of the government’s broader strategy to address longstanding debts in the energy sector, a financial burden that has weighed heavily on state-owned utilities and contributed to persistent power challenges.
But the announcement of the levy sparked immediate backlash from the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), which argued that the timing was insensitive and that the industry had not been sufficiently consulted.
“Our members are already grappling with tight margins, high operating costs, and a price-sensitive public. This levy, if rushed, could ripple through the entire fuel supply chain and hit consumers hardest.”
Public reaction has been mixed. Some Ghanaians say they understand the need to address the country’s ballooning energy sector debt, but worry the cost is being unfairly passed on to ordinary citizens.
“It’s always the consumer who pays,” said a trotro commuter. “They say it’s for debt, but how do we know it won’t just lead to more taxes later?”
The government, however, insists the levy is necessary to keep the energy sector afloat and maintain service reliability. Analysts say the move signals growing fiscal pressure on the government to generate domestic revenue without further expanding its borrowing.
As the new implementation date approaches, all eyes will be on how the government and industry navigate public sentiment and economic realities in an already fragile energy landscape.
