The minority in Parliament is demanding the immediate repeal of the controversial Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025, widely referred to as the “Dumsor Levy”, following its indefinite suspension by the government.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, June 20, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin challenged the Business Committee to programme the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to appear before the House next week and begin the formal process of repealing the law under a certificate of urgency — the same procedure used for its passage.
“The right thing to do is to repeal the law,” Afenyo-Markin insisted.
“The Majority Leader should programme the Finance Minister to appear before us next week to repeal this law under the same certificate of urgency.”
He noted that although the government had suspended implementation of the levy, it was not enough.
“It is very important they should have Ghanaians understand that, indeed, what the Minority said — that it was wrong to have a ‘Dumsor’ levy — has been acknowledged. You have, at least, listened for the first time,” he stated.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), on June 13, directed that implementation of the levy be halted. The “Dumsor Levy” was originally scheduled to take effect on June 16, 2025, and would have imposed additional charges on petroleum products, with the government arguing the measure was necessary to stabilise the power sector and address legacy debts.
However, the levy triggered widespread public outrage, with civil society groups, energy analysts, and ordinary Ghanaians condemning it as a burden on already strained consumers amidst economic recovery efforts.
The minority now wants Parliament to go beyond suspension and completely strike out the law to restore public trust and send a strong message of accountability.
This development puts additional pressure on the Finance Ministry, as Parliament reconvenes with what is expected to be a contentious debate over economic relief measures and energy sector financing in the coming weeks.
The fate of the levy will be a litmus test for the government’s responsiveness to public pressure — and for Parliament’s ability to act swiftly in reversing unpopular legislation.
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