The Minority Caucus has urged the government to immediately repeal the GH¢1 per litre levy on petroleum products, arguing that its original justification has collapsed amid rising global crude oil prices and resolved energy sector debts.
In a press conference on March 18, 2026, Deputy Ranking Member on the Energy Committee of Parliament, Collins Adomako Mensah recalled that Parliament passed the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act in June 2025 under certificate of urgency, adding the levy to fund liquid fuel procurement and address legacy debts.
He emphasised that the Minority opposed it from the start, staging a walkout and warning of weak fiscal justification.
According to the Ranking Member, the Finance Minister had assured that the cedi’s strong performance would absorb the impact, sparing consumers extra costs on petrol or diesel.
However, the caucus stated that this assurance no longer holds.
With crude oil surging from approximately $71.41 per barrel to $100 per barrel in mid-March 2026 driven by hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, projections indicate petrol could rise by up to 16.93% and diesel by 17.21% in the second pricing window of March alone. Analysts warn of further climbs to $110–$120 per barrel, potentially pushing prices to GH¢15–$17 per litre.
Current prices from the second pricing window of March 2026 show diesel at GH¢15.60 per litre and petrol exceeding GH¢12.40 per litre, with the levy contributing approximately GH¢1 to the build-up.
The Minority highlighted government announcements that it paid about US$1.47 billion between January and December 2025 to reset the energy sector, including full repayment of US$597 million under the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee and settlement of gas invoices.
With the guarantee restored and debt accumulation halted, the levy’s rationale has “evaporated,” the Caucus argued.
“If the debt has been addressed, if the guarantee has been restored, and if the cedi is no longer shielding consumers from the levy’s impact, then the justification for the GH¢1 Dumsor Levy has completely evaporated. Keeping it is not policy. It is punishment,” the caucus declared.
They called for immediate amendment of the Act under certificate of urgency to repeal the levy, plus a comprehensive review of all taxes and levies in the petroleum price build-up to cushion consumers from the global oil shock.