BY ISSAH OLEGOR
The government is set to suspend the GH¢1-per-litre Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy otherwise known as Dumsor Levy (D-Levy) on diesel for October and November, as part of measures to cushion consumers against a projected sharp increase in fuel prices.
Under the revised arrangement, the government will maintain its GH¢2-per-litre intervention on diesel, but the source of the relief will change. The reduction in statutory margins will be lowered from GH¢2 to GH¢1 per litre, with the remaining GH¢1 coming from the temporary suspension of the D-Levy.
This means diesel consumers will continue to receive a total GH¢2-per-litre relief—GH¢1 through reduced statutory margins and another GH¢1 through the suspension of the D-Levy.
The decision comes as fuel prices are projected to rise significantly in the first pricing window of October.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has projected a 5.21% increase in petrol prices and a 22.91% increase in diesel prices from Thursday, October 1, 2026.
According to COPEC, the expected increases are largely driven by higher international petroleum prices and a marginal depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar.
COPEC projects the average retail price of petrol to rise from GH¢16.90 to GH¢17.78 per litre, while diesel could increase from GH¢18.24 to GH¢22.42 per litre.
The projected increase in fuel prices has already contributed to an 8% increase in transport fares, adding further pressure on households and businesses.
The government’s decision to retain the GH¢2-per-litre intervention is therefore intended to absorb part of the expected increase in diesel prices. However, the policy changes the mechanism through which the relief is provided—from a larger reduction in statutory margins to a combination of reduced margins and a temporary suspension of the D-Levy.
