The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) recently announced the postponement of the Tariff Interpretation Order (TIO) No. 2025/004, which pertains to the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1141). This directive, signed by Commissioner-General Anthony Kwasi Sarpong on Friday, June 13, 2025, followed a mandate from the Minister of Finance after extensive consultations with key stakeholders. Consequently, the planned increase in the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (ESSDRL) for specific petroleum products, originally slated to commence on June 16, 2025, has been deferred, with a new effective date to be communicated.

The Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which introduced these changes, had been approved by Parliament under a certificate of urgency on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, explained that the bill aimed to generate an additional GH¢5.7 billion annually. This revenue was intended to address significant energy sector shortfalls, reduce legacy debt, and ensure a stable power supply across Ghana. Consumers would have faced an increase of GH¢1 per liter on petrol and diesel, and 20 pesewas on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Richmond Rockson, Spokesperson and Head of Communication for the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, confirmed the postponement, attributing the decision primarily to recent fluctuations in global oil prices. He noted that while prudent exchange rate management had led to a 'windfall' from February, bringing fuel prices down from approximately GH¢17 to GH¢11-GH¢12 per liter, international crude oil prices had surged dramatically in the preceding 72 hours, climbing from $60 to $74 a barrel due to escalating geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran. This spike, the highest in five months, caused disruptions in the domestic pricing module. The government, under the direction of President John Dramani Mahama, is committed to shielding consumers from sudden price hikes and preserving the recent gains in domestic pump prices, with the Ministers of Energy and Finance tasked to continually monitor the situation for favorable market conditions before announcing a new date.

However, the Minority in Parliament has vehemently criticized the government's decision, labeling it as a clear sign of 'trial-and-error governance.' Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, in a statement on Saturday, June 14, described the indefinite postponement as 'chaotic' and 'hypocritical,' arguing that it exposes a fundamental lack of planning and consultation in passing the law. He asserted that the 'eleventh-hour U-turn' was an embarrassment, accusing the administration of 'governance by improvisation' and 'panic' rather than leadership. Afenyo-Markin further criticized the government for using the Middle East crisis as an excuse, a tactic he claimed they had previously mocked. He insisted that the levy should be fully repealed, not merely postponed, emphasizing that it would exacerbate economic hardship for Ghanaians through increased fuel prices and transport fares. The Minority also highlighted what they perceive as worsening mismanagement in the energy sector, demanding urgent policy documents on reforms for parliamentary scrutiny to ensure transparency and accountability, and pledging continued resistance until the 'economically harmful and politically dishonest' law is withdrawn entirely.