Ghanaians must choose between supporting the newly introduced GHS1 per litre fuel levy or facing a drastic 50% increase in electricity tariffs, according to Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
Speaking on Channel One TV, Vanderpuye described the Energy Sector Levy as a “proactive and necessary” solution to Ghana’s deepening energy sector crisis.
The levy, passed under the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to raise GHS5.7 billion to offset sector debts and secure stable fuel supply for thermal power plants.
“This levy is meant to resolve a problem that we have created ourselves,” Vanderpuye said. “If we do not act now, what we are effectively saying is that Ghanaians must pay 50% more for electricity. Would you rather do that, or contribute just one cedi per litre to help spread the cost?”
The Energy Ministry and Finance Ministry have jointly warned that the nation’s energy sector faces a financial shortfall of over $8 billion, comprising $3.1 billion in debt, $3.7 billion in arrears, and $1.2 billion needed for fuel procurement in 2025 alone.
According to Vanderpuye, the new levy offers a less painful alternative to the kind of tariff hikes that would heavily impact both households and businesses. “It is either tariffs or taxes,” he stressed. “We cannot continue with this cycle of debt and erratic power. Ghanaians remember the consequences of ‘dumsor’. We cannot return to that era.”
While the levy has sparked public debate, Vanderpuye urged citizens to view it as a strategic move that could protect them from unpredictable electricity costs and supply instability. “We either pay now in a manageable way or pay later in a much more painful one.”
The Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament on June 3, with implementation expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025.
