Gov’t Told To Cushion Ghanaians With Accrued Funds From Energy Sector Levies

The minority in Parliament has called on the government to mitigate hardship brought by the hikes in fuel prices on Ghanaians with some of the funds it has raised from the Energy Sector Levies.

At a press conference, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu Constituency, John Jinapor said “Our checks indicate that the Energy sector levies Act has accrued over 18 billion cedis since its inception.

“We are calling on government to use part of that money to cushion the ordinary Ghanaian. We are calling on government to use part of the reserves from the Energy Sector Levies especially the Price Stabilisation levy to cushion Ghanaians”.

The minority also demanded that the government cut its spending.

“We are also calling on government to desist from profligate and ostentatious expenditure, some of which are needless so that we can make savings to cushion the ordinary Ghanaians.

He also urged the president and his team to consider refining Ghana’s domestic crude from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as well as consider securing stocks of fuel for use in times such as this.

“Finally I call on government to take critical look at the Tema Oil Refinery. The Tema Oil Refinery can refine our domestic Crude Oil. Also we call on BOST, that is collecting 9 pesewas per liter from each one of us when we buy fuel to use that money to buy some strategic stocks that we can release those strategic stock in times of difficulties like this.

The war between Ukraine and Russia leading to the high cost of oil on the world market, coupled with the cedi depreciation to the dollar has brought about inflation and difficult moments in not just Ghana but across the world.

Currently, a litre of diesel sells above 10 cedis at some fuel pumps with a litre of petrol above 9 cedis at most pumps.

It has been reported that the government’s Cabinet retreat at Peduase is considering means of mitigating the hardship on Ghanaians.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini