Why GRA is starting GH¢1 fuel levy implementation on Monday June 16

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has postponed the implementation of the GH¢1 Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025, originally set to begin yesterday, to Monday, June 16, this year.

This follows a stakeholder engagement with the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), which concluded that GRA should allow more time for stakeholders to prepare for the implementation.

The levy, which adds an additional GH¢1 per litre to petroleum products, aims to address the debts in Ghana’s energy sector.

The Daily Graphic has gathered that the COMAC members pleaded for time. 

Chamber

In a response, the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) acknowledged the date variation and commended the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, the Ministry of Finance, the National Petroleum Authority and the GRA for the constructive engagement regarding the implementation date of the ESLA, 2025 (Act 1141).

“Following our consultations and collaborative efforts, we are pleased to announce our alignment and satisfaction with the revised implementation date for the new Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (ESSDRL).

The new effective date is now confirmed as Monday, 16th June 2025, replacing the initially communicated date of 9th June 2025”, a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr Riverson Oppong, said.

It said the decision reflected the value of dialogue, partnership and engagement with stakeholders.

“We extend our gratitude to all relevant institutions for their commitment to ensuring a smooth and sustainable implementation of the levy,” COMAC, which had initially opposed the implementation day of June 9, 2025, said.

Parliament

Parliament on June 3 passed the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to impose a GH¢1 levy on every litre of petroleum products to raise additional funds to defray the $3.7 billion energy sector debts.

The bill proposed an upward adjustment in the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy to raise additional revenue, GH¢5 billion annually on average, to support the payment of energy sector arrears, reduce legacy debt and ensure a stable power supply across the country.

The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, laid the bill under a certificate of urgency last Tuesday, and it was passed that evening.

Explaining the rationale behind the bill, Dr Forson told Parliament that the energy sector currently posed the greatest economic and fiscal threat to the country, warning that failure to address its mounting challenges could result in a full-blown crisis.

“The total energy sector debt as at the end of March 2025 stands at $3.1 billion.

This amount includes debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), fuel suppliers and other stakeholders,” he said.

President on levy

President John Dramani Mahama has also defended the government’s decision to impose an additional GH¢1 ESLA levy, stating that the move, although difficult, was critical to resolving the country’s crippling energy sector debts and preventing a return to erratic power supply.  

Speaking at the Jubilee House during the presentation of the final report on the National Economic Dialogue, the President gave an assurance that the recent appreciation of the Ghana cedi had cushioned the impact, meaning consumers would not face immediate fuel price increases.  

The energy sector, burdened with over $3.1 billion in debt, requires an additional $1.8 billion to finance fuel for thermal power generation in the coming months.

President Mahama warned that failure to act would risk another cycle of "dumsor" (power outages), which could cripple businesses and stifle economic recovery.  

The President also gave an assurance that revenues from the levy would be strictly ring-fenced to pay energy sector debts and fund fuel purchases, meaning they would not go into the Consolidated Fund.