Julie Kozack, the Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Communications Department has backed the government Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy.
The IMF asserted that the GH¢1 fuel levy is a strategic measure aligned with the country’s fiscal goals under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme.
According to Julie Kozack, the measure will bolster Ghana’s ability to deliver on the fiscal objectives under the programme.
Speaking at a press briefing, Julie Kozack stated, “On the fuel levy, what I can say is that this is a new measure that will help generate additional resources to tackle the challenges in Ghana’s energy sector, and it is also going to bolster Ghana’s ability to deliver on the fiscal objectives under the programme”.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has labelled the GH¢1 levy on petroleum products as a midnight robbery.
According to the minority, the dumsor Levy has an effective effect of 8% per transaction which is more than the 1% per transaction E-Levy.
Speaking to the media, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah the member of parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi stated, “The E-Levy was advertised in the budget and followed up with town hall. It was neither advertised in the budget nor on the main order paper for the day. That is why we say that this amounts to midnight robbery.
The E-Levy had an effective rate of 1% per transaction, yet it was described as pickpocketing. This Dumsor Levy has the effective effect of 8% per transaction, which is why we say that it is midnight robbery”.
He added, “The E-Levy was designed to yield approximately GH¢2 billion from persons who elected to do transfers or transactions. This government is taking GH¢5.6 billion from the pockets of Ghanaians, and we think it is very dishonest”.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has postponed the rollout of the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy from today June 9 to June 16, 2025.
