The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has disclosed that he warned President Akufo-Addo against meddling with the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA), voicing worries that doing so would return Ghana to the days of “dumsor,” alluding to the nation’s most recent power outage.
On April 8, 2024, Mahama disclosed this information in a meeting with members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).
The former president emphasized his advise to the current president over the energy sector levy, citing the existing power situation as evidence.
“I advised President Akufo-Addo not to tamper with ESLA, as it could potentially reignite dumsor,”
He said.
In an attempt to stabilize Ghana’s energy sector and lessen the consequences of the power crisis, the NDC passed the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA) in 2015, during the height of the crisis under Mahama’s presidency.
The charge, which was placed on the purchase of petroleum products and the use of electricity, was intended to raise money so that, by the end of 2020, all GH¢14 billion in legacy energy-related obligations could be paid off.
Although ESLA amassed nearly GH¢30 billion in six years, the Akufo-Addo administration securitized it and extended its life till 2035.
