Parliament has approved the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing a GH¢1 levy on every litre of petroleum products sold in the country.
The bill, which was laid under a certificate of urgency by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, aims to raise additional revenue to tackle the country’s mounting energy sector debt and ensure a stable electricity supply
According to the Finance Minister, Ghana’s energy sector debt stands at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025. He indicated that a total of US$3.7 billion is required to fully clear these arrears, along with an additional US$1.2 billion to finance critical fuel procurement for thermal power generation throughout the year.
Dr. Forson assured lawmakers that the impact of the levy on fuel pump prices would be cushioned by the strong performance of the Ghana Cedi, suggesting that consumers would not face an immediate price increase.
Despite this assurance, the bill faced fierce opposition from the Minority Caucus in Parliament. Describing the levy as an undue financial burden on Ghanaians, the Minority walked out during the approval process, protesting what they claimed was a lack of quorum on the Majority side to pass the bill.
The government expects the new levy to generate approximately GH¢5.7 billion annually to support energy sector reforms and debt repayment efforts.