Collins Adomako-Mensah calls for permanent removal of GH₵1 fuel levy

Collins Adomako-Mensah, the Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Energy Committee, has called for the permanent removal of the GH₵1-per-litre fuel levy. Speaking on behalf of the Minority caucus, Adomako-Mensah criticized the government for maintaining the levy as a potential future charge, arguing that its current suspension is an inadequate solution to the rising cost of living for Ghanaian petroleum consumers. He emphasized that a temporary halt does not provide the long-term financial security needed by the public.

The Minority lawmaker argued that the initial implementation of the levy was flawed, as it was introduced during a period of relatively low international oil prices without a strategy to manage future volatility. Adomako-Mensah noted that the government failed to heed warnings about how international crude price hikes and exchange rate fluctuations would compound the burden of the levy. According to the Minority, the government’s lack of preparation has left consumers vulnerable to significant price shocks at the pump.

In his critique of the policy's structure, Adomako-Mensah suggested that the government's choice of measurement unnecessarily inflated costs. He pointed out that if the GH₵1 levy had been applied per gallon rather than per litre, the financial impact on consumers would have been significantly reduced. The current per-litre application, he argued, disproportionately increases the total cost of fuel, placing an avoidable strain on transport operators and the general public.

While the government has already suspended the levy in response to economic pressures, the Minority maintains that this is only a temporary reprieve. They are demanding that the levy be completely expunged from the petroleum price build-up. Adomako-Mensah’s stance signals a continued legislative push to ensure that fuel pricing is decoupled from this specific charge to provide permanent relief to Ghanaians.