The Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has called on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to reverse its recent decision to increase utility tariffs, describing the move as both unjustified and detrimental to the public.
In a strongly-worded statement, Amoah emphasized that industry stakeholders are prepared to oppose the tariff hikes if the government and PURC do not reconsider their position. His comments come in the wake of a PURC announcement detailing a 14.75% increase in electricity tariffs and a 4.02% hike in water tariffs, effective April 11, 2025.
The increment, outlined in a press release issued by the PURC, is part of the Commission’s quarterly tariff review for the first and second quarters of 2025. According to the PURC, the adjustments were influenced by key economic and operational factors, including fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Ghana cedi and the US dollar, inflationary pressures, fuel costs—particularly the rising price of natural gas—and the current mix of hydro and thermal power generation.
“The Commission, in their decision today at 6 pm, reviewed upward the average end-user tariff for electricity by 14.75% (see Table 2) and for water supply by 4.02% (see Table 3) across all consumer categories,” the release stated.
However, Duncan Amoah has dismissed these justifications, arguing that consumers should not be forced to shoulder the burden of inefficiencies within the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and other service providers. He pointed to significant lapses in accountability and operational mismanagement that have plagued ECG over the years.
“If you examine the circumstances surrounding the ECG, there are glaring issues of accountability that render even public procurement processes ineffective. For instance, there are nearly 2,000 containers unaccounted for, representing losses amounting to hundreds of millions of cedis,” Amoah revealed.
He criticized ECG for failing to address these inefficiencies and instead turning to consumers to cover the financial shortfall. “Claiming a lack of funds to sustain operations, while allowing such massive operational waste, is unacceptable. The PURC must reconsider this decision, as it does not add up,” he said.
Amoah further warned that the public and industry players are prepared to resist these increments, which he described as a direct assault on already overburdened consumers. “Coming back to the consumer to insist we pay more will undoubtedly be met with fierce resistance,” he asserted.
The tariff increases come at a time when many Ghanaians are grappling with rising costs of living, sparking widespread concerns about the implications of higher utility bills on households and businesses. Amoah’s critique has fueled a growing chorus of voices demanding greater transparency and efficiency from utility providers, alongside calls for the PURC to prioritize consumer welfare over profit margins.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com
