The Industrial Relations Officer of GPRTU, Abass Imoro has stated the John Mahama government has betrayed transport operators with the Energy Sector Levy after agreeing to a 15% fare cut.
Abass Imoro asserted that the government had the GH₵1 Energy Sector Levy under their sleeves but failed to disclose it to them when they negotiated a 15% fare reduction.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News Abass Imoro stated, “They knew very well that they had this under their sleeves and we sat with them, we engaged them on our 15% reduction and we finally came to a conclusion…
It is very painful that they knew very well they had this under their sleeves and that they should have informed us that this is what the government intends doing so that we would have known how to go about our reduction. It wouldn’t have been as deep as this 15% that we went to,” he added.
He added, “Lo and behold, they came out without any consultation. We are a major player in the fuel industry — the consumption of fuel, we play a lot of role in that. So we think if they had such a thing, they should have engaged us and see if we also have any contributions.”
“Looking at the 15% reduction — looking at the GH₵1 on a litre, it can never marry each other,” he stated.
He further revealed the union had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike.
“We have patiently and respectfully given up to 10th of this month — there could be engagement before then or otherwise,” he warned.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has since assented to the Energy Sector Levy.
John Mahama asserted that energy sector debt has been the actual scale of economic growth and sustainability for many years.
According to him, the Energy Sector Levy is to eliminate the energy sector debts and stop the crisis in the energy sector.
Speaking when he was about to assent to the Act on Thursday, June 5, 2025, he detailed, Energy Sector Levy Amendment Act 2025. The energy sector debt has been the actual scale of economic growth and sustainability for many years. And there have been many attempts to try to resolve it from the time of the (sic) Levy to the Energy Sector Levy Act, ESLA. Today, we are signing the Energy Sector Levy Amendment Act.
“All this in a view to trying to eliminate the energy sector debts and stop the crisis in the energy sector, and create an energy sector that delivers lower tariffs and better service for our people. I wish to pledge to the Ghanaian people that we are determined to solve this energy sector crisis once and for all and resolve the issue of the energy sector debt, with the recent performance of the Ghanaian economy,” he stated.
Mahama added, “This act that has been christened the D-Levy will not be forever. It is a temporary solution to try and resolve our crisis in the power sector. And I’ll sign it now, but I’m sure that by the grace of God, we’ll resolve the energy sector crisis and we’ll be able to relieve Ghanaians of the levy that I’ve just sent. So, I hereby append my signature to the bill”.
