Government to suspend GH¢1 D-Levy on diesel for two months

The government is set to suspend the GH¢1-per-litre Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (D-Levy) on diesel for October and November, according to persons familiar with the matter.

The move will maintain the government's total intervention on diesel at GH¢2 per litre, although the mechanism for providing the relief will change.

Under the revised arrangement, the reduction in statutory margins will be cut from GH¢2 to GH¢1 per litre, while the remaining GH¢1 will be provided through the temporary suspension of the D-Levy.

This means motorists will continue to receive a combined GH¢2-per-litre relief on diesel, with GH¢1 coming from reduced statutory margins and another GH¢1 from the suspension of the levy.

The intervention comes ahead of an expected sharp increase in fuel prices during 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% rise in diesel prices from Thursday, October 1, 2026.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 29, and signed by its Executive Secretary, Duncan Amoah, COPEC attributed the anticipated increases mainly to higher international petroleum prices and a marginal depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar.

COPEC estimates that the average retail price of petrol could rise from GH¢16.90 to GH¢17.78 per litre, while diesel prices could increase from GH¢18.24 to GH¢22.42 per litre.

The projected increases have already been reflected in an 8% adjustment in transport fares.

The government's decision to retain the GH¢2-per-litre intervention on diesel is therefore expected to provide some relief to consumers as diesel prices come under pressure.

However, instead of relying entirely on reduced statutory margins, the government will temporarily shift part of the intervention to the suspension of the D-Levy for the two-month period.