Deputy Director of Elections for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahdi Jibril, has described the new fuel tax introduced by the government as a bitter but necessary remedy to address the country’s growing debt under the Energy Sector Levy Act (ESLA).

Speaking in an interview on the Angel Morning Show with Saddick Adams on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Jibril appealed to Ghanaians to understand the rationale behind the controversial tax policy, which has been met with widespread criticism.

“We want to plead with Ghanaians that this is a difficult decision the country has taken, but sometimes you have to take a difficult and bitter pill to cure a sickness,” he said.

According to him, the situation can be compared to the energy sector, adding, “And that is exactly the state we find ourselves now with the energy sector.”

Jibril acknowledged the burden the tax places on citizens but argued that it is not a permanent fix.

He assured the public that fuel prices would remain responsive to global market changes and not be held at artificially high levels.

“But that doesn’t mean that when the fuel and dollar issue affects the cost to be reduced, it will still be at a fixed price, no, the fuel will continue to be reduced,” he clarified.

He posited and urged Ghanaians to brace for the decision for short-term discomfort in hopes of long-term stability.