By Ashiadey Dotse
The Minority in Parliament is calling on the government to immediately scrap the GH₵1 levy on petroleum products, saying it is increasing the financial burden on Ghanaians amid rising fuel prices.
The Deputy Ranking Member of the Energy Committee, Collins Adomako Mensah, argued that the levy has outlived its purpose and should be removed as a matter of urgency.
According to him, ongoing tensions involving Israel, the United States, and Iran have pushed up global crude oil prices, which is directly affecting fuel prices in Ghana.
“Keeping the one Ghana Cedi levy is punishment,” he stated, urging the government to repeal the levy immediately and review all taxes and charges on petroleum products.
As of the second pricing window in March 2026, diesel was selling at GH₵15.60 per litre, while petrol had gone beyond GH₵12.40 per litre. The Energy Sector Levy Amendment Act of 2025 added about GH₵1 to fuel prices, bringing the total levy to GH₵1.95 for petrol and GH₵1.93 for diesel.
The Minority also noted that the government had already settled the energy sector’s debts between January and December 2025, paying about $1.47 billion. This included repayment of GH₵597 million from the World Bank partial risk guarantee and clearing all outstanding gas invoices.
Mr. Mensah said with the debt fully cleared and the World Bank guarantee restored, there is no justification for maintaining the GH₵1 levy.
He further urged the government to consider suspending or restructuring other levies in fuel prices to help cushion Ghanaians against the impact of rising global oil prices.
