Accra: The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government's decision to indefinitely postpone the implementation of the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025, popularly known as the Dumsor Levy.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, described the postponement as 'a clear indication of the government's fundamental incompetence and hypocrisy.' The Dumsor Levy, which was passed by Parliament under a Certificate of Urgency, was aimed at raising funds to cover energy sector deficits and pay down debts.
The Minority Caucus argued that the levy would have imposed additional financial strain on citizens already dealing with economic hardship. The NPP Caucus emphasized that the previous administration successfully maintained a stable power supply without resorting to such taxes, highlighting what they perceive as the current government's incompetence in managing the energy sector.
As a result, the statement demanded the immediate repeal of the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025. 'We call upon the government to table a repeal bill under a certificate of urgency,' the statement urged.
Furthermore, the statement called on the Minister for Energy and Green Transition to present policy documents related to the Loss Reduction Programme for parliamentary scrutiny. It criticized the postponement as exposing a government that is unprepared and unwilling to consult stakeholders before rushing into legislation.
The statement also accused the government of hypocrisy and political opportunism, noting, 'The same government that mocked external factors as excuses for economic mismanagement is now using the Middle East crisis as justification for crude oil price volatility.'
The statement concluded by asserting that Ghanaians deserve both reliable electricity and freedom from excessive fiscal burdens, objectives that are deemed entirely compatible under competent leadership.