The government and the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) have agreed to begin implementing the new GH¢1.00 Energy Sector Levy per litre of petrol on Monday, June 16, 2025, instead of the earlier proposed date of June 9.
This consensus follows high-level consultations among key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). In a statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Riverson Oppong, COMAC commended the ministries and agencies involved for what it described as “constructive engagements.”
Earlier Pushback Over Implementation Date
The implementation of the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (ESSDRL) was thrown into uncertainty after COMAC firmly rejected a GRA directive to begin collecting the new levy on June 9.
In a letter dated June 8, COMAC slammed the GRA’s announcement as an “institutional ambush,” arguing that the directive was delivered during a public holiday and communicated to businesses on a Sunday — leaving less than 24 hours to comply.
“This approach is neither lawful nor operationally feasible. It smacks of coercion rather than governance,” the letter stated.
COMAC warned that the rushed nature of the order risked causing operational chaos, with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) unable to adjust systems, pricing, and stock in such a short timeframe, especially in a cash-and-carry market.
A Sector Under Pressure
The Chamber noted that the downstream petroleum sector is already burdened by eight taxes and levies, forming 22% of the ex-pump price of fuel. The ESSDRL would push this figure to 26%, raising concerns about cost pressures on businesses and consumers alike.
Adding to the tension was COMAC’s claim that its earlier meeting with the Energy Minister on June 5, where it proposed a more practical rollout timeline, had been ignored. “That engagement, it appears, was merely ceremonial,” the Chamber wrote in its letter.
Calm After Compromise
With the new date of June 16 agreed, stakeholders hope for a smoother rollout of the levy. What remains uncertain is how this will affect fuel prices. Industry watchers had projected a price drop in the second pricing window, which also begins on June 16.
However, with the ESSDRL kicking in the same day, it’s now unclear whether consumers will see an increase at the pump, a price hold, or only a marginal reduction. The final outcome will be known in the coming week as pricing adjustments take effect.
