A Researcher and Monitoring Officer at COPEC, Sampson Addae has called on the government as a matter of urgency to devise measures to curtail the propose new tax on petroleum products among others. He opines that Ghanaians cannot continue to struggle over hikes in fuel prices.
The government through the 2021 budget presented last Friday by Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is proposing a new tax on petroleum products among others.
This new tax, the Sanitation and Pollution Levy is to fund efforts to fund investment in the areas of sanitation and pollution.
The levy is for 10 pesewas on the price per litre of petrol/diesel under the Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA). There is also a 30 pesewas increase in fuel prices to take care of excess power capacity charges.
If Parliament approve this new tax, Ghanaians will see further increase in petroleum prices at the pump.
He made the call in an interview with Ohene Addo on Plan B FM Morning Show “Nkosuo Nsem”. He advocated for proactive measures to manage the situation rather than bringing in new levies.
“General cost of living within the country has been as a result of high fuel prices but little has been done to reduce the taxes although policy makers and stakeholders and the government acknowledges the difficulties people within the country are facing as a result of these super high fuel prices at the pumps.” He said
“This new proposed levy will further deepend the woes of the ordinary Ghanaian. Transport fares will go up. The accumulated increases we have paid since January to date is already 17%, from GHS4.67 pesewas to the current GHS5.45 pesewas. If you add another 5-8%, you are doing 23% within a quarter. Our refinery is not working. This is unacceptable”. He lamented
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