Fuel companies in Ghana call for suspension of Customs Act provisions — MyJoyOnline

Ghana’s Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, COMAC, has called on the Ghana Revenue Authority to suspend the application of certain provisions of the Customs Act, 2026. The organization opposes Article 136, which provides for transferring all tax obligations in the petroleum products marketing sector from oil marketing companies and liquefied petroleum gas marketing companies to Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies — BIDEC.

As MyJoyOnline reports, COMAC set out its objections in a letter to the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority. The chamber said this far-reaching change was introduced without proper consultation with the industry and could have serious consequences for operators, the sector and the national economy.

Objections to Article 136

COMAC noted that subsection 3 of Article 136 requires BIDEC to account for tax at the point of sale. At the same time, subsection 5 of this article allows the Commissioner-General to defer its payment for up to 21 days subject to a bank guarantee.

According to the chamber, the new model shifts to the level of wholesale suppliers a responsibility that is currently secured by guarantees, bonds and the own obligations of oil marketing companies and liquefied petroleum gas marketing companies. COMAC also questioned the Revenue Authority’s argument that it is necessary to deal with fewer entities and resolve the issue of arrears by marketing companies. The chamber said it had not received any memorandum or assessment to support this approach.

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Control and supply risks

COMAC believes that the accumulation of arrears is linked not to the point at which tax is collected, but to control problems in the ICUMS system. According to the chamber, system exceptions allowed certain operators to continue dispatching fuel after exceeding approved limits.

The organization also said the new rules could force BIDEC to advance taxes before receiving payment. In COMAC’s view, this could increase credit and collateral requirements and ultimately raise retail fuel prices.

The chamber called for retaining the current arrangement, under which BIDEC pay import duties and port charges at the time of import, while oil marketing companies and liquefied petroleum gas marketing companies account for taxes and levies at the stage of fuel sale. COMAC also supported Act 1179 and Articles 126 and 127, which preserve the customs mechanism for registering petroleum operators, as well as controls over the storage, dispatch and movement of products.