The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) says the increase in the prices of petroleum products higher than the 27% being reported.
Ghanaians have been told that the recent increment ranges between 18 to 27 percent. But according to ACEP, its own calculations, shows that Ghanaians will be paying between 33% and 40%.
“The effect of the levies on ex-pump prices are much greater and punitive than what Ghanaians have been made to believe “Executive Director of ACEP, Muhammed Amin Adam.
[contextly_sidebar id=”7RfoIO6x82cayX3EWGrZ61l8yP0hzqiK”]Mr. Muhammed Amin Adam said, “we estimate that the levies have led to increase in the ex-pump price of petrol per litre by 33%, 40% on diesel per litre and 22% on LPG per kilogram.”
He further stated that with the introduction of the current levies, the tax component on the ex-pump prices stands at 41 percent for petrol and 42 percent for diesel.
According to him, the share of taxes on petroleum prices in Ghana is one the highest in the developing world.
Meanwhile Parliament has been engaged in a back and forth with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) over the approval of the energy sector levy that led to the increases in fuel prices.
According to Parliament, it was made to understand that the increase would be 5% instead of the rather high percentage at the pumps.
The increase, which comes barely a month after similar hikes in utility prices, has angered many Ghanaians, considering crude oil prices on the world market is at its lowest level in recent months.
Organised Labour has demanded a 50 percent increment in salaries to cushion workers. But government has said it will be unable to meet their demands since it has to settle an outstanding debts of Ghc4.5 billion.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana