The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has vehemently rejected the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) directive to implement the new Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (ESSDRL) starting June 9, 2025.
In a strongly-worded letter to the GRA Commissioner-General, COMAC expressed its “utmost dismay” over the abrupt notice, deeming it “unlawful, impractical, and disruptive to operations.”
COMAC criticized the timing and mode of communication, received at 8:00 am on Sunday, June 8, just a day before the levy takes effect. The Chamber described the move as “coercive” and akin to a “military regime” approach.
“This approach is neither lawful nor operationally feasible… Issuing a backdated directive on a holiday and serving it on a weekend for next-day compliance borders on institutional ambush,” the statement read.
According to COMAC, the new levy would push the total tax and levy burden on petroleum products to 26% of the ex-pump price, up from 22%, undermining industry competitiveness and threatening business survival.
The Chamber noted that it had proposed a three-point plan to mitigate the impact during a June 5 meeting with the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, but felt the meeting was “merely ceremonial” as its proposals were ignored.
“We therefore wish to state unequivocally: COMAC and its members cannot and will not begin implementation of this levy from Monday, 9th June,” the letter emphasized.
COMAC is demanding a minimum two-week transition period, with a new implementation date of June 16, 2025, to allow the industry adequate time to adjust.
“We are industry stakeholders, not bystanders, and we deserve better than Rambo-style directives in the middle of a weekend,” the statement concluded, highlighting the need for more collaborative policymaking.