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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, as part of measures to cushion consumers against rising fuel prices.
The move will allow the government to maintain its existing GH¢2-per-litre intervention on diesel, although the way the relief is funded will change.
Under the revised arrangement, the reduction in statutory margins will be reduced from GH¢2 to GH¢1 per litre, while the remaining GH¢1 will come from the temporary suspension of the D-Levy.
This means motorists will continue to receive a total GH¢2 reduction on every litre of diesel during the two-month period—GH¢1 through reduced statutory margins and another GH¢1 through the D-Levy suspension.
The intervention comes as fuel prices are expected to rise significantly during the first pricing window of October.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has projected a 22.91% increase in diesel prices, from an average of GH¢18.24 to GH¢22.42 per litre, beginning October 1, 2026.
COPEC also projects petrol prices to increase by 5.21%, from GH¢16.90 to GH¢17.78 per litre.
According to COPEC, the projected increases are largely linked to higher international petroleum prices and a marginal depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar. The chamber said crude oil prices increased from US$103.07 to US$124 per barrel during the relevant pricing window.
The latest intervention follows earlier government measures aimed at limiting the impact of rising diesel prices. These included a GH¢2-per-litre reduction in the regulatory margin, which was introduced in August and extended into September.
With the new arrangement, the government will shift part of that intervention from statutory margin reductions to the temporary suspension of the D-Levy.
The decision comes amid growing pressure on motorists and businesses from higher fuel and transportation costs. Transport fares have already increased by 8%, following the anticipated rise in petroleum prices.
The government’s intervention is therefore expected to reduce part of the impact of the projected diesel price increase over the two-month period.
However, COPEC’s GH¢22.42 figure remains a projection for the October pricing window and should not be presented as the confirmed pump price unless subsequently confirmed by the relevant authorities or market data.
