The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has called on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to suspend the implementation of its proposed electricity and water tariff increases scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
The appeal follows PURC’s announcement of a third-quarter tariff adjustment that increases electricity tariffs by 3.49% across the board and water tariffs by 0.85%.
In a statement issued on June 24, Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations described the reasons provided by PURC as unjustifiable, arguing that similar explanations have repeatedly been used to support utility tariff hikes over the years.
According to GUTA, factors cited by the Commission, including exchange rate fluctuations, inflation, fuel costs, and generation mix, do not warrant the latest increase.
The Association argued that the cedi’s depreciation of 4.18% between April and May was too insignificant to justify a tariff adjustment. It also pointed out that inflation only increased marginally from 3.4% to 3.7% during the same period.
GUTA further noted that fuel prices declined during the second pricing window in June, with petrol prices dropping by 9.3% and diesel by 1.7%.
The traders’ group also maintained that there are currently no major challenges with power generation, insisting that all generating equipment is functioning properly.
“The cedi indeed depreciated by an average of 4.18% between April and May, but this depreciation is insignificant, which does not call for any increment.
“Inflation just rose from 3.4% in April to 3.7% in May, which is also minimal. Regarding fuel prices, they fell in the second pricing window in June. Petrol fell by 9.3% and diesel by 1.7%.
“On the issue of Generation Mix, there is no problem, as all the machines are working. PURC has no justification for this tariff increment,” the Association stated.
GUTA is therefore urging PURC to reconsider the decision, warning that higher utility costs could place additional pressure on businesses and consumers already grappling with economic challenges.
