According to the think tank, despite assurances that the numerous taxes imposed by the previous administration which the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had described as nuisance taxes, would be scrapped, the new government only “abolished the excise duties which was just two pesewas”, and reduced the petroleum tax by a negligible percentage in the first budget.

[contextly_sidebar id=”OugAYqoEGkJ74uwtpWVdgn4L7NG64qjG”]Speaking to Citi News, a Senior Research Analyst at the Institute, Richard Rockson, said they expect wholesale and significant reductions in the taxes and levies when the budget is read in Parliament by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta.

“In opposition, the government complained, along with us that some of these taxes and levies were extravagant and were on the high side and we’re expecting that once the second budget is coming into force, government will be able to look at that,” he said.

“We don’t want what happened in the first one to happen again where government abolished the excise duties which was just two pesewas, and reduced the petroleum tax from 17 percent to 15 percent. We want a comprehensive review of these taxes and levies so that we give some respite to the people of Ghana.”

Fuel prices went up a number of times this year before hitting an all-year high in September, with petrol selling at an average of GHc4.29 at the pumps, and diesel going for an average of GHc4.23 per litre.

Some NPP communicators have suggested that a number of taxes will be reviewed downwards, with the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, hinting over the weekend that electricity tariffs will be reviewed downwards soon.

The high electricity tariffs were a major part of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s campaign ahead of the 2016 elections, with many of the party’s communicators claiming that electricity cost more than rent.

“I’m glad that businesses are no longer burdened by the erratic power supply that wrecked our nation in recent years. Dumsor, thank God, appears now to be the thing of an unlamented past. Another of the stars of the government, the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, is to be commended for the sterling work he’s been doing so far on this matter,” the President said.

“Furthermore, the government is moving to set in motion the process for the review of electricity tariffs and in the budget to be read by the brilliant Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday, I’m sure we will hear some good news in this regard.”

Come clean on revenue

The Institute also called on the government to publish details of revenue accrued from the taxes and levies on petroleum products and the oil find, and the expenditures made from those finances.

“We expect government to be able to come clean when it comes to the taxes and levies on the petroleum sector, especially the fuel price buildup; how much it has accrued in 2017 alone, what it has used the funds for. We expect some level of transparency in the sector. We expect government to publish revenues that we’ve had and we want to know what government has used our oil revenues for over the period.”

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By: Edwin Kwakofi & Sixtus Dong Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post IES wants comprehensive review of petroleum levies in 2018 budget appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In the first pricing window of 2017, prices of some petroleum products went up by 11 percent.

[contextly_sidebar id=”zqHEnTg8wOK3vSCMCr3Nni15Cwddgfqv”]But the chamber believes a possible review will make up for the recent increases caused by the depreciation of the cedi.

Consumers have started complaining about the cost of fuel at the pump.

Executive Secretary for the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers, Duncan Amoah, said government must move to curtail the incessant increases.

“Primarily, what is accounting for all of this seems to be the Cedi depreciating further against the dollar; and in the industry, speculation is that, it is going to hit about 4.5 before the end of the month [January],” he explained.

“Today as we speak, the petroleum tax alone is driving all of us to the point we are seeing ourselves in… the taxes that we have been complaining about like I indicated; the national petroleum tax initially, was around 33 pesewas per litre, but today it has shot up to almost 54-55 pesewas per litre,” Mr. Amoah said.

Checks by Citi Business News indicated that, the price of a litre of petrol went up between 8 and 11 percent, while the same quantity for a litre of diesel is up between 9 and 11 percent.

A litre of petrol at some major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), is now selling between GHc 4 and GHc 4.15. These hikes have attracted some agitation from consumers who say the increment is too high.

Some commercial drivers have also begun adjusting their fares following the increase in fuel prices.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Reduce taxes on fuel products – Chamber of Petroleum Consumers appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.