The Majority National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana’s Parliament has accused the Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus of engaging in populism following their criticism of the controversial GHS1 energy sector levy.
He has accordingly urged the public to view the intervention as a necessary action to safeguard the power sector which is saddled with debts.
The Minority had reprimanded government over what it described as sneaking the Energy Sector Amedment Bill 2025 into Parliament and hurriedly passing it into law without stakeholder consultations.
Addressing a press conference in Parliament House on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Chairman of the Energy Committee, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah parried the claim and stated that members of the Minority caucus were fully involved in the processes leading to the passage of the law.
“All the members on the Minority side on the Finance Committee and all the leaders of the Energy Committee were present in the committee meeting when we discussed this amendment bill. We all went through the bill, and no one went out. They were all there.
“Honourable George Kwame Aboagye, Collins Adomako Mensah, also together with all the Minority MPs. They were all there. At the end, the majority decision was taken, and then you organised a conference to say you were not consulted. This is deliberate misinformation from the Minority, “ Hon Bedzrah stated.
The Ho West Member of Parliament explained hat the levy was intended to service debts that has bedevilled smooth fuctioning of the energy sector.
Mr Bedzrah said the primary objective of the levy is to raise funds to procure fuel in excess to guarantee continuous power generation and to avoid potential power crises in future.
He stated further that; “If you look at the explanation given to us by the Ministry of Finance, this levy is basically to buy fuel; to buy liquid fuel,” he noted.
“We have a shortfall of liquid fuel, and if nothing is done about getting liquid fuel, the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) will shut down their machines,”
He encouraged the public to consider the levy as a proactive measure adopted by government to ensure sustainable energy supply.
