Resetting Ghana shouldn’t be about new taxes – Sulemana Braimah tells Mahama govt

Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has told the Mahama administration to focus on cutting waste in the energy sector rather than imposing taxes on Ghanaians.

He opined that the taxes only continue to enrich elite looters.

Reacting to the new tax on fuel on is X page, page, Braimah said “Resetting Ghana shouldn’t be about new taxes to continue to enrich elite looters. It should be about curbing the waste and looting in all sectors. If you know very well about the looting and waste at NPA, why such a new levy? The scandal at NPA is far bigger than the NSS Scandal.”

Meanwhile, Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has told Ghanaians that they should prepare for more harsh taxes under the Mahama administration.

Dr Bawumia accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) if lying to Ghanaians for political s[power by station that they were not going to burden Ghanaians with taxes. However, with just six months into office, they have introduced a levy on fuel.

Addressing New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters during his thank-you tour of the Central Region, the 2024 presidential candidate of the NPP said “They have brought something called dumsor levy; this is eight times E-Levy. So if you buy fuel for Ghc1000, you will pay dumsor levy of Ghc83. Just prepare, there is more to come,” he stated.

Consumers are going to pay GHC 1 per litre to address energy sector shortfalls and debt repayment.

This was after Parliament, under a certificate of urgency, approved the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing a GH¢1 levy on petroleum products on Tuesday, June 3.

The passage of this bill is expected to generate an additional GH¢5.7 billion in revenue annually to address the energy sector’s financial woes.

The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated that the energy sector’s total indebtedness stands at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.

He further explained that a minimum of US$3.7 billion is required to fully clear this debt, with an additional US$1.2 billion needed to procure essential fuel for thermal power generation throughout 2025.

The Minister assured Parliament that the impact of the new levy on ex-pump prices would be “absorbed by the gains made from the strong performance of the Ghana Cedi”, meaning consumers would not experience an immediate price hike.

But the government has come under severe criticism for introducing this levy.

For instance, Former Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam said in Parliament that “Not long ago, they were here celebrating abolishing taxes, but I am sorry to say that all the taxes they abolished, put together, did not bring us 5 billion Cedis.

“This government is seeking to raise 5.7 billion Ghana Cedis from the increase in the levy for petroleum products.”

The Karaga lawmaker added “Mr Speaker, I said in this house during the debate on the budget that this government, in abolishing the taxes, was giving something in your hand with the left hand and they were going to take it back from your hand with their right hand and not only taking from your hand but take what was in your pocket in addition. This is exactly what they are doing with the petrol taxes that they are increasing.”

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticised the Mahama administration for the introduction of the levy on fuel.

He reminded the government that they promised not to introduce new taxes in the 2025 budget statement therefore, Ghanaians are not expecting new taxes.

“You presented your budget saying you are not going to introduce new taxes and levies, then you turn and say you are repealing e-levy, but now you are bringing back e-levy. You repeal e-levy and reinstate e-levy,” he said on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 3.