Anthony Kwasi Sarpong
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced the postponement of the implementation of the contentious tariff increase on selected petroleum products, following a directive from the Minister of Finance and intense pushback from the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors and Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC).
In a circular issued by the Commissioner-General of GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, the authority indicated that the implementation of Tariff Interpretation Order (TIO) No. 2025/004, relating to the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1141), has been deferred.
The increase in the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (ESSDRL), originally scheduled to take effect from June 16, 2025, will now take effect on a yet-to-be-communicated date.
The announcement comes in the wake of a letter from COMAC, which condemned the GRA’s earlier attempt to impose the levy starting Monday, June 9, 2025, based on a letter dated Friday, June 6 – a public holiday – and delivered on the weekend.
COMAC called the directive “neither lawful nor operationally feasible,” likening the move to “institutional ambush” and “military-style governance.”
In its protest letter, COMAC noted that industry representatives had met with the Minister for Energy and Green Transition on June 5, 2025 to raise practical concerns and propose a two-week transition period.
However, according to the chamber, these concerns were ignored.
“Let us state the facts plainly: this approach is neither lawful nor operationally feasible. It smacks of coercion rather than governance, and depicts a military regime,” the letter read.
The downstream petroleum sector currently bears eight separate taxes and levies, representing 22% of the ex-pump price.
COMAC argued that the new ESSDRL increase would raise that burden to 26%, threatening industry competitiveness and consumer welfare.
“The abrupt implementation denies our members, OMCs, the lead time needed to adjust systems, prices, and inventory,” COMAC added, warning that its members “cannot and will not begin implementation of this levy” without sufficient notice.
In light of the controversy, the GRA’s postponement offers temporary relief to consumers who would bear the brunt of the tariffs increase.
By Ernest Kofi Adu