Public interest advocate Rodaline Imoru Ayarna has defended the GH₵1 fuel levy, rejecting claims that it places an unfair burden on Ghanaians.
Responding to calls by the Minority to scrap the levy, she said describing it as punishment misses the point.
“This is not punishment,” she stated in an interview on TV3 monitored by MyNewsGh, arguing that previous policies had placed heavier strain on citizens.
She pointed to measures such as the domestic debt exchange programme and taxes on betting and electronic transactions as examples of what she considers more difficult periods for many households. “That was punishment for families,” she said.
According to her, the current levy is part of efforts to manage rising global fuel prices and maintain some stability locally. She noted that crude oil prices have increased worldwide and said Ghana cannot isolate itself from those trends.
“It’s just about cushioning the Ghanaian,” she explained, adding that a relatively stable cedi and existing measures have helped keep fuel prices within a manageable range.
Ayarna also criticised the Minority’s position, describing it as political. “They have no moral right to talk about punishment in this case,” she said, insisting that the focus should be on sustaining the economy rather than contesting every policy decision.
