The Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Policies and Research, Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku, claims the government is in crisis and unable to fund the economy.
In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant stated that the government is now bent on raising funds by every means possible.
Mr. Poku’s remarks come in the wake of Parliament’s approval of the GH¢1.00 petroleum levy, which was passed by the Majority Caucus on Tuesday after the Minority staged a walkout.
Less than 24 hours after its approval, the move has triggered widespread criticism, with energy experts and the Minority describing it as an additional burden on Ghanaians.
However, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has defended the levy, describing it as a timely and necessary fiscal measure to stabilise Ghana’s energy sector.
Mr. Poku, however, insists that the levy has nothing to do with the energy sector and is instead aimed at funding general government projects.
“The government is in crisis, so this levy is urgent for them because they can’t fund the economy. This has nothing to do with the energy sector but is a tax to be collected by the GRA,” he stated.
He also took on Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga’s claim that the GH¢1 levy is a “collective sacrifice” to end the recurring power crisis, popularly known as dumsor.
“I thought they said there is no dumsor, so why do we need money to solve it? The Finance Minister is also saying Ghanaians will not bear the brunt—is he the one going to provide the petroleum products? Who will bear the cost? They should stop lying to us,” he fumed.
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