Kofi Bentil, Senior Vice President of IMANI-Africa, has launched a sharp critique of the government’s handling of the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, accusing officials of hiding behind technicalities instead of addressing the real challenges confronting Ghanaians.
Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, June 7, Bentil dismissed the government’s rationale for the new fuel levy, describing it as disconnected from the lived realities of ordinary citizens.
“You heard Felix [Government Spokesperson] spend 15 minutes explaining these things — it’s your job, nobody cares about that,” Bentil stated bluntly. “In countries where leadership works, citizens don’t know what energy source powers their homes — crude, gas, or nuclear — their lights simply stay on. Please, sit up and do your work.”
His comments follow growing public backlash over the newly introduced Energy Sector Recovery Levy, which government claims is necessary to stabilise Ghana’s power and energy sectors. Critics, including IMANI-Africa, argue that the levy places an additional burden on already overstretched citizens and reflects a lack of innovation in managing public finances.
“Every time there’s a crisis, we’re bombarded with complicated explanations nobody asked for. If you’re competent, solve the problem,” Bentil insisted, emphasizing that the issue transcends party lines.
“This is a bipartisan failure,” he said, urging both past and current administrations to take accountability for the country’s enduring energy challenges.
The GHS1 fuel levy, introduced under the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is projected to raise GHS5.7 billion annually. The government has assured the public that all proceeds will be ring-fenced for key energy-related expenditures, including fuel procurement and debt servicing, to ensure a reliable power supply.
