Energy Ministry considers petroleum levy cuts amid rising fuel price concerns
The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has revealed that it is in discussions with key stakeholders to review increasing calls for a reduction or elimination of taxes on petroleum products, as concerns mount over rising fuel prices.
Demands for a reassessment have intensified in recent weeks, with the Minority in Parliament, transport operators, and other advocacy groups contending that the levies are pushing up transport costs and worsening living conditions. They have therefore urged authorities to remove the taxes to ease the burden on consumers.
Addressing participants at this year’s Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) Safety Week, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, indicated that engagements are ongoing with the Ministry of Finance and other relevant institutions to examine the impact of the taxes alongside the concerns raised.
He emphasised that although government is open to making adjustments, any policy decision must carefully weigh the need for immediate relief against the imperative of preserving long-term economic stability.
“We are committed to reviewing the levies and ensuring that the price stays stable. We should not take short-term economic decisions that will hurt the ordinary Ghanaian in the long term. That is not prudent economic management. Whatever cushion we can give Ghanaians in terms of petroleum prices, let us do that,” he said.
