The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has argued that slashing taxes on petroleum products would not damage the 2026 Budget, pushing back against government reluctance to ease the burden on Ghanaians as fuel prices surge sharply.
Dr Amin Adam, a former Finance Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for Karaga Constituency, made the assertion amid mounting pressure on the government to act on petroleum taxes following a steep rise in pump prices at the start of April.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) set new minimum pump prices for the April 1 to April 15 window, placing petrol at GH¢13.30 per litre and diesel at GH¢17.10 per litre. The increases represent a significant jump from the previous pricing window ending March 31, when petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas were set at GH¢11.57, GH¢14.35, and GH¢10.67 per kilogram respectively. The revised benchmarks reflect movements in the international oil market following geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The price spike has triggered an urgent response from transport operators. The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to scrap fuel taxes, warning that failure to comply would force a nationwide increase in transport fares.
The GPRTU cited multiple cost pressures beyond fuel, including surging spare parts prices, higher insurance premiums, and increased Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) charges on vehicle licensing and renewal.
Dr Amin Adam, who holds a doctorate in petroleum economics from the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom, has been a consistent critic of the Mahama administration’s tax policies on energy. Earlier in March 2025, he criticised the reintroduction of the Special Import Levy, describing it as a betrayal of public trust that placed an unnecessary burden on businesses and ordinary citizens at a time when the economy was already under strain.
His latest position adds parliamentary opposition weight to calls from the public and the transport sector for the government to provide immediate relief at the pump.
