Africans will move faster to EVs to avoid illicit tax, but not to save the climate - Benjamin Boakye

The Executive Director of the policy think tank Africa Centre for Energy Policy, Benjamin Boakye, says Africans would be compelled to adopt and use electric vehicles because they want to protect themselves from corrupt politicians and their illicit taxes, not necessarily because they want to save the environment.

Benjamin Boakye shared this with his many followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, indicating that the government, through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has given the green light for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) to resume operations and assist the GRA in revenue assurance in the petroleum downstream sector.

The letter from the GRA was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors.

In his post, Benjamin Boakye shared two letters; one from the GRA to the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors and another from the GRA to the Ministry of Energy.

“In the quest to ceaselessly milk consumers of petroleum products disguised as quality and revenue assurance, a new war front opens. Africa will move quicker to EVs because of politicians and their “illicit tax” on the people, not for the climate,” Benjamin Boakye wrote on X.

An investigative report by Fourth Estate earlier alleged irregularities in a multi-million dollar contract awarded to SML by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Despite these allegations, both the GRA and SML have strongly denied any wrongdoing.

In response, SML has initiated legal action against Fourth Estate, alleging defamation.

Amid the concerns surrounding the contract between the GRA and SML, President Akufo-Addo directed KPMG to conduct an audit into the matter.

Subsequently, the president directed GRA to review some sections of its contract with SML.

EAN/MA

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