The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has declined an invitation from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to participate in a public hearing on proposed utility tariff adjustments for the period 2025–2029, citing the current economic hardship facing Ghanaian households.
The invitation, dated September 9, 2025, sought the participation of the NPP and other key stakeholders to review tariff proposals submitted by state-regulated utility providers, including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), and Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo).
In a statement issued on Monday, October 6, 2025, and signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP described the discussions on potential tariff increments as “unnecessary and unjustifiable” at a time when citizens are already struggling with rising living costs.
“The NPP shall not attend the said stakeholder engagements because the Party does not see any justification for any engagement on possible utility tariff increment at this moment when Ghanaians are already overburdened by 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.
According to the party, the so-called Dumsor Levy generates more than GH¢575 million monthly, and it urged government to channel that revenue into supporting the operations of the ECG, VRA, and GRIDCo, instead of introducing further tariff increases.
The NPP also dismissed claims that the proposed adjustments were linked to Ghana’s ongoing programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), explaining that the current arrangement is expected to end in 2026, while the proposed tariff increases would take effect from 2026 to 2029.
“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 added.
The party further accused the government of mismanaging the energy sector and burdening citizens with excessive taxes and levies.
“From all indications, what is not in doubt is that Ghanaians are being unduly levied to pay for government’s incompetence in the management of these regulated utility companies. This, the NPP finds, unacceptable and will use all legitimate means to resist any attempt to impose these astronomical tariff increases on Ghanaians,” the statement concluded.
