Economist and Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, Godfred Bokpin, has criticised the government for its lack of stakeholder consultation in introducing the controversial GH¢1 per litre surcharge on petroleum products, widely dubbed the ‘Dumsor Levy’.
He warned that the rushed approach undermines public trust and risks weakening support for the policy.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, June 7, Prof Bokpin stated, “The lack of consultation and all of that takes a lot from this whole discussion, and the government should take a second look at it, and they should learn from that, because clearly there was no way one could see this coming from the presentation of the 2025 budget.”
He emphasised that meaningful dialogue with the public and stakeholders is crucial when introducing policies with significant financial implications.
The Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament under a certificate of urgency, seeks to generate additional revenue to tackle Ghana’s crippling energy sector debt.
According to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the sector’s total indebtedness stood at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.
He added that a minimum of US$3.7 billion would be needed to clear the debt, with a further US$1.2 billion required to secure fuel for thermal power generation throughout the year.
However, the Minority in Parliament has fiercely opposed the levy, describing it as a “predatory tax” expected to extract GH¢5.7 billion annually from households and businesses.
They have criticised the lack of transparency in the bill’s passage and demanded detailed disclosure of how the funds will be managed.
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