Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South Constituency, has called on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to immediately halt the implementation of the 14.75% electricity tariff increase that took effect from May 3, 2025.
In a letter dated May 19, 2025, addressed to PURC Executive Secretary Dr. Shafic Suleman, the MP criticized the timing of the adjustment, citing worsening power outages and the unfair burden on consumers.
The tariff hike, announced amid Ghana’s ongoing electricity supply instability, has sparked public outrage. Awuah argued that charging higher rates for unreliable service violates the principle of “value-for-service” and disregards consumer rights.
“It is unjust to demand increased payments from citizens who endure daily power cuts,” he stated, referencing Section 3(d) of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act, 1997 (Act 538), which mandates the PURC to protect consumer interests.
The MP also criticsed the PURC’s silence on the erratic power supply, urging greater transparency. “The Commission must address the root causes of these outages and hold utility providers accountable,” he emphasized.
His demands include:
1. Suspending the tariff increase until stable electricity supply is restored.
2. Public clarification from PURC on the causes, duration, and solutions to the outages.
3. A published load-shedding timetable by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to help consumers plan.
4. Performance-based tariff approvals, tying future adjustments to verifiable service improvements.
Awuah stressed that the PURC’s role must balance utility sustainability with consumer protection. “Prioritizing financial viability alone, without service reliability, erodes public trust,” he noted.
The letter was copied to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition and the ECG’s Acting Managing Director.
This appeal comes as households and businesses grapple with prolonged outages, reigniting debates over utility accountability and infrastructure investment. Stakeholders await PURC’s response, with many echoing the MP’s call for fairness and regulatory urgency.
