ASEC BLOG

The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC) has expressed deep concern over the Government of Ghana’s newly introduced GHS 1 levy on every litre of fuel. The move is a short-sighted measure that targets citizens rather than addressing structural weaknesses in the energy sector.  This increase in levy joins the existing taxes on fuel prices, including the Energy Sector Recovery Levy (20 pesewas/litre). The proposed tax, intended to support the struggling energy sector, risks placing an additional financial burden on Ghanaians already contending with economic hardship. If implemented, the measure will have long-term implications on inflation, transportation, commodity prices, and the overall cost of living. Fuel is a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy. From agriculture and transportation to food distribution, the cost of fuel drives the price of nearly every essential good and service. The new levy would increase this burden without delivering any solution to the core issues affectin...

The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC), is advocating for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to privatise part of its operations. This move, we believe, will enable the nation’s power provider to focus on its core technical duties such as maintaining and upgrading infrastructure while handing over administrative and commercial aspects to investors.  This comes amid growing concerns about the recent irregular power supply across the country. As a result, the average Ghanaian has had to endure spates of unstable electricity leaving them in search of alternative sources of power that are relatively expensive. Historically, ECG has been plagued with numerous operational and financial challenges, outdated infrastructure, inefficient technology, and rampant electricity theft that have all contributed to frequent power outages, colloquially known as ‘dumsor.’  The company’s massive debts, partly due to unpaid bills from residential, commercial, and governmental bodies, furth...