Member of Parliament for Atiwa East and former Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei-Asare says the Minority in Parliament is not opposed to efforts aimed at fixing Ghana’s struggling energy sector, despite their objection to the recently announced GH₵1 per litre fuel levy.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, June 9, the MP defended the Minority’s position, insisting they are only calling for proper economic management, not standing in the way of progress.
“It is not our caucus refusing or preventing the state from fixing a known problem,” she said.
She pointed out that concerns about efficiency in the energy sector were first raised by the current government when it was in opposition.
Recalling past remarks, she said, “I remember very well when the NDC was in opposition; they said that the issue in the energy sector had to do with efficiency, and so the problem was efficiency. In President Mahama’s State of the Nation address, I remember him saying that too.”
“He even went ahead to say that this cash waterfall mechanism is an account where all revenues generated under ECG will be put in there, and then based on that, they can distribute it according to a formula to pay the IPPs and pay their expenses,” she added.
[embedded content]Questioning the government’s approach, she added, “So if it’s about efficiency, what have they put in place to introduce efficiency? You start that first before…”
Mrs Osei Asare also criticised the decision to introduce the GH₵1 fuel levy through an emergency amendment just months after the national budget was presented. “On Tuesday, when they presented the amendment of that levy under a certificate of emergency, you ask yourself, you just presented a budget in March, and then two months down the line, you come back and say there is an emergency, and so I want to do this. What happened to the efficient measures that you said you were going to do?”
She argued that Ghanaians should benefit from the recent appreciation of the cedi, not be burdened with new taxes.
“If for any reason there’s been a windfall in appreciation of the cedi, Ghanaians should enjoy it. Why should you prevent Ghanaians from enjoying a windfall that they ought to enjoy just because you feel there has been an appreciation in the cedi against its major trading currencies?”
According to her, good governance goes beyond slogans.
“We told them that in managing the economy, it is not just about shouting and talking but sitting down, analysing properly and seeing the situation for yourself before you jump to conclusions.”
She also addressed how the government has handled energy sector debt, comparing it to previous administrations. “When we were leaving, the energy sector levy debt was 2.5 billion USD. We did not add on. But from former President Kufuor’s time to their time, they added on. What we did was to manage it and manage it efficiently, such that we didn’t have to place an extra 1 cedi on a litre.”
Describing the new levy as excessive, she said, “It is unheard of, not even on a gallon but on a litre, such that for a gallon of fuel, you’re putting 4.50 pesewas. Why? Already, this is going to affect a lot of businesses.”
She also accused the government of breaking its promises.
“In your campaign, you told the people of Ghana that you were coming to relieve them of the taxes that they had been burdened with. So you say one thing, the people give you the mandate, you come and quickly you do something else.”
Mrs Osei-Asare stressed that the Minority is not against raising funds for the energy sector but rather wants the government to fix inefficiencies first.
“All we are saying is that if there’s been a windfall, let the people enjoy that windfall. But do the needful, and doing the needful is introducing the efficient measures you talked about.”
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