Mahama orders fuel tax cuts after emergency cabinet meeting

President John Dramani Mahama has directed key ministers to take urgent measures to cushion Ghanaians from the impact of rising fuel prices, following global supply disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The decisions were taken at an emergency Cabinet meeting held on Thursday, April 9, after the President returned from an official trip to France.

The surge in fuel prices has been attributed largely to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route, which has disrupted supply and driven up international petroleum prices.

In response, the President Mahama has tasked the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Minister for Energy, John Jinapor, to engage stakeholders within the energy sector to explore the removal of certain taxes and levies on petroleum products. The proposed measures are expected to take effect from the next pricing window.

The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who announced the directives at a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting added that the intervention will be implemented for an initial period of four weeks, after which it will be reviewed and further decisions taken based on prevailing conditions.

As part of broader efforts to ease the burden on commuters, the Minister for Transport has also been instructed to expedite the deployment of some 100 Metro Mass Transit buses. The President further directed that fares on these buses be reduced to provide affordable transport options for the public.

Additionally, President Mahama reminded ministers and senior government appointees to strictly adhere to the existing ban on fuel allowances, as part of efforts to reduce public expenditure during the period.

The measures form part of a coordinated government response aimed at mitigating the impact of rising fuel costs on households and businesses across the country.