Parliament on Tuesday night, approved the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, imposing a GH¢1 levy on petroleum products to tackle, what the Finance Minister claims is the nation’s spiralling energy sector debt.
The decision passed under a certificate of urgency ignited fierce controversy. The Minority Caucus staged a dramatic walkout, branding the levy an unbearable burden on Ghanaians.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who tabled the bill, revealed that the energy sector’s debt has ballooned to US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.
He warned that US$3.7 billion is needed to clear the debt, with an additional US$1.2 billion required for fuel to power thermal plants throughout 2025. Dr. Forson insisted that the strong performance of the Ghana Cedi would cushion consumers from immediate price hikes at the pump.
The Minority Caucus, however, fiercely opposed the bill, arguing it places an unfair strain on citizens already grappling with economic challenges.
They walked out in protest against what they described as a flawed decision, claiming the Majority lacked the numbers for a legitimate vote.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga made an impassioned plea for the levy, calling it a “collective sacrifice” to end the crippling power outages known as “dumsor.”
He distanced the new levy from the recently repealed E-levy, urging Ghanaians to contribute “just one cedi” per litre of fuel to secure a stable energy future.
The bill is projected to raise GH¢5.7 billion annually to address the energy sector’s financial crisis. While the government claims the Cedi’s strength will shield consumers, the Minority’s vehement opposition underscores deep divisions over the path to resolving Ghana’s persistent energy woes.