Minority condemn increase on Road Fund Levy

The Minority on Thursday said the increase in the Road Fund levy component of the petroleum prices was unconstitutional and an illegality.

They asserted that the price build-up of the recently announced price hikes indicated that the fuel levy has gone up from 230 cedis per litre to 400 cedis, an increase of 170 cedis per litre that was without parliamentary authorization or approval.

Mr Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip said this when he made an Urgent Statement in Parliament on the Road Fund Levy component of the recent petroleum price increases announced by the Government. He said Article 174 (1) of the 1992 Constitution provides that "no taxation shall be imposed otherwise than by or under authority of Act of Parliament".

Mr Adjaho said the government itself recognised this and therefore indicated that the additional 170 cedis was to be put into an Escrow Account (suspense account) but the law is clear, nobody can make constitutional what is unconstitutional and therefore the Escrow Account has no legal basis. He therefore, called on the house to condemn the illegal act of the government and reduce the price of petrol and all affected petroleum products affected by the levy of 170 cedis per litre. This position is in line with the Constitution and law, unless a new Bill is introduced into the House to amend the existing law' he added.