National Coordinator for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has called on government and regulatory authorities to reconsider the recently announced increases in electricity and water tariffs, describing the adjustments as excessive and potentially burdensome for citizens.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, December 4, Mr. Vanderpuye said the proposed hikes fail to reflect the current economic realities facing households. He acknowledged the need for utility service providers to receive adequate funding to maintain operations and improve service delivery but stressed that consumers must not be unduly strained.
He noted that any tariff review should balance the financial sustainability of providers with the affordability concerns of the public, especially at a time when many families are already dealing with escalating living costs.
“They must consider the conditions we find ourselves in. We know the utility companies need resources to provide services, but 15.9% for water and 9.8% for electricity is extremely high. It must be reviewed,” he argued.
Mr. Vanderpuye further cautioned that although the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) functions independently, its decisions have direct implications for citizens whose incomes continue to be stretched.
“It is about the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people. If the 9% increase is to be accepted, it should be phased over a period. Implementing it at once is too harsh and will put unnecessary pressure on ordinary Ghanaians,” he said.
His remarks follow the PURC’s announcement of new electricity and water tariffs set to take effect on January 1, 2026, under its 2026–2030 multi-year tariff framework.
The Commission has justified the upward review, stating that the adjustments are essential to meet critical investment needs of the utilities, enhance industry competitiveness, and safeguard consumers’ long-term interests.