The NPP MPs, has vowed to mount public protests in the coming days against the government’s recent imposition of a new GH₵1 per litre tax on petroleum products.
The tax, which took effect this week, pushes total levies on fuel to GH₵3.35 per litre, prompting fierce criticism from the opposition.
Addressing the press at Parliament House in Accra, the NPP MPs, led by its Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh described the levy as “draconian, insensitive, and a betrayal of struggling Ghanaians.” He accused the government of economic hypocrisy, noting its earlier calls for commercial drivers to reduce transport fares by 15 percent—an expectation he said now rings hollow in the face of the new tax burden.
A stab in the back
“This is not just about a one cedi increase, it is about the soul of our nation,” Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri on the side of the NPP MPs, told journalists. “The economic impact analysis done by the government is suspect. This move is a stab in the back for Ghanaians already burdened by high inflation, job losses, and skyrocketing cost of living.”
He further urged the general public to join the NPP’s Minority Caucus in resisting what he termed an “unjust and economically devastating tax that Ato and his government have forced on us,” referring to Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh warned that if the government does not withdraw or reduce the fuel tax immediately, the NPP will intensify its protests, saying “we will escalate our actions in solidarity with the Ghanaian people. Enough is enough.”
GH₵3.35 in fuel levies: A growing burden
A breakdown of the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) pricing formula reveals that before the new tax was added, Ghanaians were already paying GH₵2.35 in fuel-related levies per litre. These existing charges include:
Energy Debt Recovery Levy – 49 pesewas
Road Fund Levy – 48 pesewas
Special Petroleum Tax – 46 pesewas
Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy – 14 pesewas
Sanitation and Pollution Levy – 10 pesewas
Energy Sector Recovery Levy – 20 pesewas
BOST Margin – 12 pesewas
Fuel Marking Margin – 9 pesewas
Energy Fund Levy – 1 pesewa
Distribution/Marketing Margin – 26 pesewas
The new GH₵1 Energy Debt Recovery Levy now raises the total to GH₵3.35 per litre—a significant jump that fuel users say will be felt not just at the pump, but across transport, food, and logistics sectors.
A divisive move in a fragile economy
The NPP Minority’s protest threat adds to a rising tide of public discontent as fuel prices inch upward.
With inflation still a pressing concern and the cedi under pressure, many Ghanaians fear the tax will have cascading effects on daily expenses and business operations.
