The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has renewed its call for a clear cap on the GH¢1 Energy Levy ahead of the Mid-Year Budget Review scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Speaking on ABC News GH’s Midday News, Paul Ofori, Head of Research at COPEC, warned that the levy—initially introduced as a temporary measure—risks becoming a permanent financial burden on Ghanaians if no expiry framework is announced. “We are expecting… some document to give a time to when paying of this levy will end,” he said.
Ofori raised broader concerns about the culture of temporary levies turning into long-term financial obligations without proper legislative guidance.
He referred to previous levies that were never capped and noted that without clarity, the GH¢1 levy risks following the same path.
The COPEC researcher also questioned the lack of accountability regarding procurement corruption at ECG, where irregularities continue to drain public funds without consequences. “Punitive measures at corruption are not biting enough,” he said, citing the ECG case.
According to the latest Auditor-General’s report, ECG alone was responsible for a significant portion of the GH¢15.8 billion in irregularities attributed to the Energy Ministry in 2024.
COPEC maintains that if such financial mismanagement had been tackled earlier, it could have reduced the debt burden currently crippling key institutions. “We could have resolved some of these debts if financial irregularities were resolved from the beginning,” Ofori noted.
He welcomed the government’s recent Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) signed by ECG’s management but stressed that performance must go beyond paper commitments. “We want to see something concrete on the ground… That is why I am happy we are introducing private hands,” he added.
