By Isaac Donkor Distinguished
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticised the John Dramani Mahama-led government over the recent hikes in utility tariffs.
This follows the announcement of new tariff adjustments that take effect on January 1, 2026, which will see consumers paying more for electricity and water.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has approved a 9.86 per cent increase in electricity tariffs and a 15.92 per cent rise in water tariffs across the board for all customers.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 2, after the completion of the Multi-Year Tariff Review Order (MYTO) processes for the 2026–2030 period.
A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Shafic Suleman, said the review was carried out in accordance with sections 3, 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21 of the PURC Act, 1997 (Act 538).
Addressing journalists in Accra on Monday, December 8, Ranking Member on the Energy Committee, George Kwame Aboagye, said the government is imposing hardship on citizens at a time many are already struggling.
He insisted the increases would worsen the cost of living and threaten small businesses.
“These tariff hikes are not reforms, they are punishment. They are not solutions. They are symptoms of failed leadership and poor policy choices. We call on the government to immediately halt these incessant increases. The minority stands firmly with Ghanaian workers, households, small businesses and industries struggling to survive.
“We will continue to use every legitimate parliamentary tool to demand fairness, transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s utilities. This tariffs act must be reversed immediately, and measures must be taken to protect consumers and sustain businesses. Ghanaians deserve relief, not repeated shocks,” he said.
