‎COMAC warns Section 136 could push up fuel prices

By: Godbless Asaana‎
‎The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has called for the immediate and indefinite suspension of Section 136 of the Customs Act, 2026 (Act 1179), warning that the new tax collection arrangement could increase fuel prices and put pressure on the country’s fuel supply system.
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‎In a statement released on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Accra, and signed by Dr. Riverson Oppong, Coordinator of COMAC, the Chamber said Section 136 changes the point of tax collection rather than addressing weaknesses in the enforcement of existing controls. COMAC warned that the approach “risks increasing costs to consumers, posing risks to fuel supply security, and undermining Government revenue.”
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‎Under Section 136, the downstream petroleum tax obligation is transferred from Oil and LPG Marketing Companies (OMCs/LPGMCs) to Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs), which will be required to account for tax at the point of sale.
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‎COMAC said the new arrangement could require BIDECs to pre-finance taxes before receiving payment, potentially increasing borrowing and guarantee costs.
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‎The Chamber warned that those additional costs could ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher fuel prices.
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‎“By severing liability from liquidity, BIDECs would be required to pre-finance taxes before payment is received,” COMAC said, adding that the resulting borrowing and guarantee costs “risk being passed through to consumers.”
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‎COMAC also expressed concern that the new system could slow the revenue collection cycle. It said marketers currently remit within 21 days, while BIDECs have indicated that they may require at least 45 days.
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‎The Chamber further warned that concentrating the tax obligation at the bulk-supply level could create a “single point of failure”, where action against one BIDEC could potentially disrupt supplies to multiple marketers and retail outlets.
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‎COMAC is therefore calling for the existing framework to be retained, with BIDECs paying import duties and port charges at importation while OMCs/LPGMCs continue accounting for taxes and levies ex-pump.
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‎The Chamber has given the Ministry of Finance 14 days to announce the suspension of Section 136, failing which it says it will convene an emergency general meeting to determine its next steps through legitimate administrative, regulatory and legal channels.