Former National Lottery Authority (NLA) Director-General Sammi Awuku has challenged the government to explain why Ghana’s Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy has not been reduced, despite National Democratic Congress (NDC) promises to use the charge to protect consumers from fuel price shocks.
Mr Awuku said the latest increases in petrol and diesel prices had placed further strain on Ghanaians already facing the effects of rising petroleum costs.
In a statement, he pointed to the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) August 2026 price floors, which lifted the minimum price of petrol to GH¢14.53 per litre. That represented a 9.4% increase.
The price floor for diesel rose to GH¢16.97 per litre, an 18.3% jump. Mr Awuku added that several Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) had already revised their pump prices, with some selling diesel for more than GH¢18 per litre.
He acknowledged that the government could point to movements in the international crude oil market as a reason for the increases. However, he questioned whether Ghana’s current fuel-pricing system was adequately protecting consumers.
Mr Awuku said pump prices had continued to rise even during periods when international crude prices fell. He cited a period in which Brent crude declined from US$78 to US$71.90, while prices at Ghanaian filling stations remained high because of the NPA’s price floor system.
“Even COPEC has questioned whether this mechanism truly protects consumers,” he stated.
The former NLA boss said the situation had renewed questions about promises made by the NDC before Ghana’s 2024 general election.
According to Mr Awuku, the party’s Resetting Ghana Manifesto promised that the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy would be used to cushion consumers during periods of sharp fuel price increases. The manifesto also linked the levy to efforts to stabilise the cedi and reduce the cost of living.
He said those commitments were difficult to reconcile with the government’s decision to increase the levy by GH¢1 per litre in July 2025.
Mr Awuku argued that consumers were still paying the higher charge while petrol and diesel prices continued to rise.
“The more important question is this: What happened to the 2024 promises?” he asked.
He called on the government to set out when consumers would begin to receive the relief promised during the election campaign. He also linked the issue to claims that progress had been made in reducing energy sector debt.
“If government says it has made significant progress in clearing energy sector debt, then Ghanaians deserve to know: When will this levy be reduced and when will consumers begin to feel the relief that was promised?” he said.
Mr Awuku accepted that the government could not control global crude oil prices directly. However, he said it remained responsible for honouring its policy commitments or explaining openly why those commitments had changed.
“No one expects government to control global crude oil prices. But Ghanaians do expect it to honour its commitments or explain, openly and honestly, why those commitments can no longer be fulfilled,” he added.
