Asenso-Boakye Slams Fuel Tax as “Catastrophic,” Accuses CSOs of Hypocrisy

Opposition MP Francis Asenso-Boakye has condemned Ghana’s newly implemented fuel tax dubbed the “Dumsor Levy” (D-Levy) as economically devastating, asserting it surpasses the impact of the previous Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).

In a July 16 social media statement, the Bantama legislator and former Works Minister warned the levy would trigger cascading price hikes for transport, food, and essential goods, disproportionately burdening ordinary citizens.

Asenso-Boakye accused civil society organizations (CSOs) of “double standards,” contrasting their vocal opposition to the 2022 E-Levy under President Akufo-Addo’s administration with their current silence on the Mahama-led NDC government’s policy.

He characterized the E-Levy as an “optional digital transaction tax” modeled after regional peers like Kenya and Nigeria, designed to broaden financial inclusion and reduce foreign borrowing. By comparison, he argued the D-Levy’s blanket application makes it more regressive and economically disruptive.

The MP further criticized the NDC for “political deceit,” alleging the party leveraged populist rhetoric against the E-Levy while now imposing a broader tax. “

Ghanaians deserve honesty, not hypocrisy,” he stated, calling CSO silence “complicity” in a policy he labeled a betrayal. The D-Levy took effect amid ongoing national efforts to stabilize Ghana’s energy sector, though the government has yet to publicly address Asenso-Boakye’s specific claims.