GH₵1 fuel levy is midnight robbery, simple wickedness – Oppong Nkrumah slams gov’t

Rating Member on the Economic system and Growth Committee and Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has criticised the federal government over the introduction of the Power Sector (Modification) Invoice, 2025, popularly often called the “dumsor levy.”

In accordance with him, the transfer is a betrayal of the odd Ghanaian, describing it as “midnight theft” and a “stab within the again.”

The invoice imposes a GH₵1 levy on each litre of petroleum merchandise as a part of efforts to rescue the nation’s closely indebted power sector.

ALSO READ: Dr Bawumia slams new dumsor levy, says it’s 8 times worse than E-levy

Talking throughout a press convention held by the Minority Caucus on Monday, ninth June, Mr Oppong Nkrumah lambasted the federal government for implementing what he termed a extra burdensome tax than the E-Levy, which was launched by the earlier administration.

He said:

Ghanaians will bear witness that this levy is being charged at a charge of 8% per transaction. 8% per transaction and this makes it one of many highest tax charges launched in Ghana in a single occasion.

ALSO READ: GH¢1 fuel levy: NPP announces ‘dumsor levy’ demo less than 24 hours after bill passes

For those who examine the historical past of VAT and lots of of our different income handles, you’ll discover that on the first occasion of introduction, the charges are generally 1%, 1.5%, or 2%, after which, over time, there could also be some add-ons and consolidation.”

He added:

For this explicit levy, on the very first occasion, the federal government is charging the folks of Ghana 8%. This is without doubt one of the highest first-instance taxation charges ever launched within the Republic.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah additionally famous that the present authorities vehemently opposed the E-Levy whereas in opposition, but has now launched a far worse tax.

He argued that the present levy lacks sufficient stakeholder session, deeming it worse than the E-Levy:

The E-Levy had an efficient charge of 1% per transaction, but it was described as pickpocketing. This Dumsor Levy has an efficient charge of 8% per transaction and that’s why we are saying it’s midnight theft. The E-Levy exempted transactions beneath GH₵100.

He continued:

ALSO READ: No fuel price increases from GH¢1 energy levy – Pres. Mahama assures amid public outrage

But, the E-Levy was bastardised. The poor had been exempted. This Dumsor Levy, nevertheless, has no minimal threshold. The poor are literally probably the most affected, as a result of not like the wealthy, each single cedi issues much more to them.

In the meantime, the Ghana Income Authority (GRA) is scheduled to start implementation of the controversial levy on sixteenth June 2025.