By Gifty Boateng
The imposition of GHc1 by the John Dramani Mahama-led administration, aimed at solving the huge loses and debts in the energy sector, keeps getting approval from some groups and members of the public, notwithstanding the initial backlash.
Aside endorsements from the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), the Ghana Private Road and Transport Unions (GPRTU), who initially threatened a strike action, others including musician, Kwaw Kese, have expressed favourable response.
According to the artiste popularly known as Abodam, it will cost nothing for Ghanaians to contribute their quota to curtail the challenges in the sector.
Justifying his stance, Kwaw said in recent past, a litre of fuel costs as much as GHc16 and so if it has been reduced to GHc12 and the managers of the economy say consumers contribute to solve the intermittent power challenges he sees nothing wrong with the suggestion.
He encouraged the public to do away with the partisan politics and embrace the initiative to contribute the widow’s mite to build the country.
“The price of fuel has been reduced from GH¢16 to GH¢12 per liter. Which means government has dashed Ghanaians GH¢4. And if he is now saying that, give GH¢1 out of the GH¢4… If we are building a great nation, I think it makes sense.
“I know some people will make politics out of this, but I think it makes sense if we want to build a great nation. I will advise us to put the politics aside and work towards how we can develop the country,” he said in a video on social media site Instagram.
In his view, the levy nicknamed Dumsor levy (D-levy) makes a lot of sense than the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration’s electronic levy alias E-levy, which was fiercely rejected by the public leading to a brawl in Parliament.
Previously, the likes of blogger, Kwadwo Sheldon, a known sympathizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), socialite, Efia Odo also endorsed the levy.
“But fuel prices were higher, and they’ve definitely decreased within the past few months. Let’s call a spade a spade and put away agenda”, Efia posted on X.
On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Parliament passed the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 also known as the GHC1 fuel levy. It was passed under a certificate of urgency.
The new bill introduces a GH¢1 levy on petroleum products, intended to help offset Ghana’s longstanding energy sector debt and support stable electricity supply.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) had intended to implement the GHC1 fuel levy beginning Monday, June 9, 2025, but a fierce resistance from the COMAC caused the GRA to postpone the implementation of the levy to June 16, 2025, after consultations with Companies.
The move had been seen by many as an unpleasant surprise, criticizing the government for failing to engage stakeholders and Ghanaians.
But barely a week after, many who raised earlier objection have been educated and agreed to contribute urging government to use the funds for the intended purposes.
So far, it appears it is only the minority in Parliament that are still adamant saying the levy worsen the plight of Ghanaians.