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Parliament Approves Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill
Parliament has approved the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 despite fierce opposing views from the Minority Caucus.
Presenting the Bill on the floor of the House, the Minister of Finance Cassiel Ato Forson noted that, the Bill is intended to raise additional revenue to address the nation’s crippling energy sector debt and also ensure stable power supply.
The Bill which was laid under a certificate of urgency is expected levy GHS 1 on petroleum products and raise revenue to cover the energy sector’s total indebtedness which stands at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.
The Minister assured Parliament that the impact of the new levy on ex-pump prices would be absorbed by the gains made from the strong performance of the Ghana Cedi meaning consumers would not experience an immediate price hike.
However, the Minority Caucus led by their leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin vehemently opposed the Bill, describing it as an inappropriate burden on Ghanaians and E-levy in another form.
For his part, the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga noted that, the passage of the Bill will eventually end the persistent power crises known as “dumsor”.
“Contribute “one cedi, just one cedi” per litre of fuel to secure a stable power future” he stated.
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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