Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, has called on the government to immediately scrap the GH¢1 per litre fuel levy, describing it as harmful and economically burdensome.
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Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Nkrumah criticized the government for pushing the levy through Parliament without thorough debate, insisting that the Minority’s earlier warnings about its impact on fuel prices are now being proven right.
“We continue to encourage the government to drop this levy. The reasons we raised earlier, which were dismissed, are now evident,” he said.
The fuel levy, which took effect on Wednesday, July 16, was introduced to support the power sector. However, it has sparked backlash from transport operators, oil sector players, and the general public, who argue that the move is ill-timed and worsens the cost of living.
Oppong Nkrumah highlighted that the Energy Minister had earlier dismissed concerns that the levy would raise prices, touting it as a “smart and innovative” measure.
According to Nkrumah, fuel prices are already rising by an average of 8%, just as the Minority had predicted.
“Even after suspending it a few times, the effects are now being felt. The math was bad from the beginning,” he added.
The lawmaker stressed the need for the government to listen to feedback and adopt alternative measures to support the energy sector without increasing the financial burden on Ghanaians.
