Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the minority leader in parliament has stated the John Mahama-led government is a trial-and-error governance.
According to the minority leader, the government rushed the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025 commonly called the dumsor levy and is now forced to backtrack.
The minority leader in a statement declared the postponement of the dumsor levy as a shameful retreat.
Afenyo Markin stated, “This postponement is not a solution. It is a shameful retreat that exposes this government’s incompetence and hypocrisy. It shows they didn’t consult properly. They rushed the law, and now they’re forced to backtrack. That’s trial-and-error governance”.
“This is the same administration that berated us for pointing to global shocks like COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. Now they are using the Middle East crisis as an excuse? That is the height of political dishonesty”, he added.
Afenyo Markin added, “President Mahama promised to bring relief, not more taxes. Yet here we are, with a government that wants to tax fuel during an economic crisis. It’s unacceptable.”
“Akufo-Addo ran a stable power sector without burdening Ghanaians with more taxes. Why can’t this government do the same? Don’t use the delay to buy time or blame the power crisis on our call to repeal the law. The worsening dumsor is your doing, not because the tax is suspended.”
“There are expired meters still in use. People are consuming power without paying because of defective systems. It’s not tax money we need — it’s reforms. You have companies ready to supply meters, but the programme is frozen. Meanwhile, communities are crying for meters. Where is the leadership?”
“We demand a certificate of urgency to reverse this cruel policy completely. Any half measure will not be accepted — not by us, not by the people.”
He further made a call on Ghanaians to “Join us in resisting this wicked levy. We cannot allow this government to break its promises and worsen our pain.”
Meanwhile, the Government has temporarily suspended the new petroleum levies that were scheduled to take effect today 16th June 2025.
Richmond Rockson, the Ministry’s spokesperson and Head of Communication revealed that the temporary suspension is due to the recent instability in global oil prices.
