Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has taken a swipe at the Mahama administration for what he describes as a deceptive U-turn on its tax policy, following the passage of the Energy Sector Levy Amendment Bill 2025.
“You presented your budget saying you are not going to introduce new taxes and levies, then you turn and say you are repealing e-levy, but now you are bringing back e-levy. You repeal e-levy and reinstate e-levy,” he fumed.
His criticism came shortly after Parliament approved the controversial bill in the early hours of June 4, 2025.
The legislation imposes a GHS 1 charge on every litre of fuel, a move government says is essential to address the dire state of Ghana’s energy sector.
The bill was passed under a certificate of urgency laid by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who revealed that the energy sector’s total debt stood at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.
He assured lawmakers that the new levy would not cause an immediate increase in pump prices, as the effect would be cushioned by the strong performance of the Ghana Cedi.
But the Minority staged a walkout before the bill was passed, accusing the government of breaking its promise not to introduce new taxes in the 2025 budget.
“This is not what Ghanaians voted for,” Afenyo-Markin stressed, insisting the move erodes public trust and piles more hardship on citizens. Despite the opposition’s protest, the Majority used its numbers to get the bill through.
