Emissions Levy has nothing to do with carbon emission prevention; gov’t just being insensitive – Ben Boakye blasts gov’t

Executive Director of Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Benjamin Boakye has rejected claims that government’s introduction of the Emission Levy is meant to reduce carbon emissions.

In his view, the new tax has nothing to do with carbon emissions but shows just how insensitive the government is.

"They know clearly that it's not about carbon. This is not going to prevent anybody from driving. They know you don't have a choice. You will have to pay for it. The carbon will still be generated because the Ghanaian will have to move from one point to the other. There's no way you are going to prevent people from polluting.

“So, if you now say that after taking all those taxes, the road fund tax and all of it, you still want to now find ways around the same transportation value chain to tax them, you are not just being sensitive to the same Ghanaian who is driving and has no option but to drive. You find ways to tax them at all costs that is not being sensitive,” Benjamin Boakye said.

The implementation of the Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112) has kicked off today, Thursday, February 1.

The levy imposes a tax on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on internal combustion engine vehicles.

According to GRA, the move aligns with government's commitment to addressing greenhouse gas emissions.