The Minority in Parliament is demanding deeper cuts in electricity and water tariffs, insisting that the recent reductions announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) fall short of easing the financial strain on households and businesses.
Collins Adomako Mensah, Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Energy Committee, voiced the concerns in response to PURC’s announcement last week that electricity tariffs would drop by an average of 4.81 per cent and water tariffs by 3.06 per cent, effective April 1, 2026.
“The Regulatory Commission announced reductions in electricity and water tariffs, but we say plainly this reduction is insufficient and Ghanaian consumers deserve far better,” Mr. Mensah said.
He explained that the Minority’s review of PURC’s quarterly data for 2025 revealed a consistent pattern of inflated projections for inflation and exchange rates, which ultimately disadvantaged consumers.
“In quarter one and quarter two, the commission projected an inflation rate of 22.49 per cent against an actual average of 20.3 per cent, an over-projection of 2.19 points. In quarter three, the projection was 20.67 per cent when the actual figure was 11 per cent — an over-projection of 9.67 points,” he noted.
According to the Minority, these overestimations skewed tariff calculations, making the modest reductions announced inadequate to cushion Ghanaians against rising fuel and energy costs.
“The ongoing increases in fuel and energy costs are squeezing households and businesses from multiple fronts. A mere 5 per cent reduction does not go far enough,” Mr. Mensah stressed.
While PURC’s adjustments were part of routine quarterly reviews to reflect changes in inflation, exchange rates, and operational costs, the Minority is urging the government to consider deeper cuts—up to 10 per cent—to provide meaningful relief.
As living costs continue to climb, the debate over whether PURC’s tariff reductions are sufficient is expected to intensify in the weeks ahead.
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