Senior Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Kofi Bentil, has issued a scathing critique of the government’s handling of the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, accusing leaders of hiding behind technical justifications instead of solving the real issues affecting Ghanaians.

Speaking on Joy News on Saturday, June 7, Bentil rejected the government’s explanations for the fuel levy, describing them as out of touch with the real hardships facing ordinary Ghanaians.

“You heard Felix [Government Spokesperson] spend 15 minutes explaining these things — It’s your job, nobody cares about it,” Bentil fumed. “When you travel to places where leaders work you don’t know where they bought the gas from or whether they are using crude oil or nuclear energy — your lights stay on. Please sit up, do your work.”

Bentil’s remarks come in the wake of widespread public criticism of the Energy Sector Recovery Levy, which has been introduced as part of efforts to stabilise Ghana’s power and energy sectors. But critics, including IMANI-Africa, argue the levy is an added burden on already overtaxed citizens and reflects a lack of innovation in public finance management.

“Consistently, they come at us with this and that and then when the problem comes, they come and explain all kinds of things that we don’t care about. If you’re competent, solve the problem,” Bentil added, stressing that the issue goes beyond partisan politics.

“It is a bi-partisan problem,” he noted, urging both the current and past administrations to take responsibility for Ghana’s persistent energy sector challenges.

The GHS1 fuel levy, introduced under the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is expected to generate GHS5.7 billion annually.

The government has pledged that all revenue from the levy will be ring-fenced for critical energy-related expenditures, including debt repayment and fuel procurement, ensuring a stable power supply.