Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has cautioned Ghanaians to prepare for what he describes as an “onslaught of taxes” under the leadership of former President John Dramani Mahama, should he return to power.
Speaking during his thank-you tour of the Central Region, Dr. Bawumia criticized the recently passed Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, which introduces a GH₵1 increase in levies on petroleum products. The bill was approved by Parliament on June 3 and is projected to raise GH₵5.7 billion to support the energy sector.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson defended the levy, citing the urgent need for funds to procure fuel and maintain stable electricity generation. According to him, the GH₵1 increase is a necessary sacrifice to avoid recurring power outages, commonly referred to as “dumsor.”
“The electricity tariffs consumers pay do not cover the cost of fuel for thermal power plants,” Dr. Forson explained. “We need an additional $1.2 billion to ensure consistent power supply this year.”
But Dr. Bawumia sees it differently. Addressing a crowd of enthusiastic supporters, he accused the Mahama-led administration of introducing “crippling taxes under the guise of energy reform.”
“They have brought something called dumsor levy. This is eight times the E-Levy,” Bawumia declared. “So if you buy fuel for GH₵1000, you will pay GH₵83 in this new tax alone. Just prepare, because more is coming.”
The NPP flagbearer framed the tax as a preview of a broader, more punitive tax regime under Mahama, reinforcing the party’s position that economic recovery should not come at the expense of overburdening citizens.
