NPP declines PURC invitation to public hearing on proposed utility tariff increases

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced that it will not attend a public hearing organised by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) on proposals to increase utility tariffs for the 2025–2029 period.

In a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and issued on October 6, the NPP explained that it had received an invitation from the PURC to participate in a “Public Hearing on Submitted Utility Tariff Proposal for the 2025–2029 Multi-Year Tariff Review.”

According to the statement, the PURC’s invitation, dated September 9, said the purpose of the engagement was to brief stakeholders on proposals submitted by regulated utilities, including VRA, GRIDCo, ECG, NEDCo, GWL, GNPC, and EPC, regarding their tariff reviews.

However, the NPP said it sees no justification for attending such a meeting, describing any discussions on possible tariff increases as “unwarranted” and “insensitive” given the current economic hardship faced by Ghanaians.

“The Party does not see any justification for any engagement on possible utility tariff increment at this moment when Ghanaians are already overburdened by the rising cost of living occasioned largely by government’s introduction of new taxes including the new energy sector levy popularly known as the ‘Dumsor Levy’,” the statement read.

The NPP further criticised the levy, describing it as one that was “hurriedly passed by the NDC Majority in Parliament under the cover of darkness.”

It argued that the levy alone generates significant revenue and should be sufficient to support the operations of utility companies.

“The ‘Dumsor Levy’ alone rakes in over GH₵575 million every month and over GH₵5.7 billion annually for the government. We submit that part of this money be used to support the operations of the regulated utility companies,” the statement added.

The party also rejected what it described as “false claims” from government spokespersons suggesting that the proposed tariff adjustments were linked to conditions under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

“The NPP completely rejects the attempts by government spokespersons who are claiming that this latest move to increase utility tariffs is linked to a supposed IMF conditionality. This is palpably false,” the statement said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the current IMF programme is scheduled to end next year (2026), but the proposed astronomical increment in tariffs is expected to take effect from 2026 to 2029.”

The statement accused the government of mismanaging regulated utility companies and unfairly burdening citizens with excessive levies and charges.

“From all indications, what is not in doubt is that Ghanaians are being unduly levied to pay for the government’s incompetence in the management of these regulated utility companies.”

The NPP described the proposed tariff increases as “unacceptable” and vowed to resist any attempt to impose them on consumers.

“This, the NPP finds unacceptable and will use all legitimate means to fight any such attempt to slap Ghanaians with these imminent astronomical increases in utility tariffs.”

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