By Daniel Bampoe
The Member of Parliament for Tolon and 1st Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has formally petitioned the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, demanding detailed disclosures on the management of funds collected under the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry’s Information Officer, the lawmaker invoked Section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), and Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution, asserting Parliament’s constitutional oversight responsibility over public financial management in the energy sector.
The request comes against the backdrop of concerns that statutory reporting obligations under the Energy Sector Levies Act have not been met. Specifically, the law mandates the establishment of an Energy Sector Support Account to receive proceeds from the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy, and further requires the Minister to submit an annual report to Parliament detailing the management of the account.
However, according to checks cited by the MP, no such report has been presented to Parliament since the March 31 deadline this year, raising questions about transparency and compliance with the law.
In his request, Iddrisu is seeking two key sets of information: the total revenue accrued from the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025, and a comprehensive breakdown of how those funds have been utilised.
He has asked that the data be organised clearly—by period, agency, or any relevant classification—to facilitate parliamentary scrutiny and public understanding.
The Tolon legislator emphasised that the request is being made in collaboration with members of Parliament’s Energy Committee, as part of broader efforts to ensure accountability in a sector that has long been burdened by debt and financing challenges.
The energy sector has, over the years, been at the centre of fiscal concerns, with successive governments introducing levies and reforms aimed at stabilising power generation, distribution, and debt repayment obligations.
Citing provisions of the RTI Act, the MP has requested that the Ministry respond within the statutory 14-day period.
He has also specified that the information be delivered in hard copy to his office at Parliament House, underscoring the formal nature of the request and its importance to parliamentary oversight.
