Accra: The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has called for the immediate suspension of the proposed adjustments to utility rates. The Chamber has urged the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the government to implement a transparent and equitable process regarding these changes.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement issued in Accra by Mr. Stephane Miezan, President of GNCCI, expressed concerns over new tariff proposals submitted to the PURC by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). The ECG is seeking a 225 percent increase in its Distribution Service Charge, while NEDCo is requesting a 171 percent rise. Meanwhile, GWCL has proposed a 280 percent increase in water tariffs, citing rising operational costs, foreign exchange pressures, the impacts of illegal mining, and the need for financial stability.
The statement highlighted that the PURC has already implemented successive tariff adjustments, which have raised the baseline cost of utilities for businesses. Electricity tariffs rose by 3.02 percent in the third quarter of 2024, 14.75 percent in the first half of 2025, and 2.45 percent in the third quarter of 2025. Water tariffs increased by 1.86 percent in the third quarter of 2024 and 4.02 percent in the first half of 2025. These cumulative adjustments have placed significant strain on businesses, particularly manufacturers, SMEs, and households already coping with rising living costs.
The statement pointed out that the indicators used by ECG and GWCL to justify further increases do not support the proposed tariffs, noting that inflation has declined, the cedi has remained relatively stable, and the price of natural gas trades between USD 7-8. The GNCCI argued that the outstanding debts of these institutions should not be passed on to consumers, as repeatedly transferring financial shortfalls directly to businesses is unsustainable.
The statement further suggested that these proposed increments seem driven more by institutional inefficiencies than by prevailing economic conditions. It stressed that regardless of macroeconomic performance, tariff increases persist, raising concerns about fairness, sustainability, and accountability. Implementing hikes of this magnitude would increase production costs, reduce competitiveness, erode profitability, and threaten jobs, particularly in manufacturing and agro-processing sectors.
The GNCCI also emphasized the need for strategic direction of the Energy Sector Levy to address outstanding obligations. It advocated for prioritizing investments in solar and other renewable energy sources to strengthen capacity and intensify efforts to curb illegal mining (galamsey), which continues to damage water resources and increase treatment costs.
Reaffirming its commitment to constructive engagement with PURC, ECG, GWCL, and the Ministry of Energy, the Chamber is seeking balanced solutions that ensure the financial sustainability of utilities while protecting businesses and households and safeguarding Ghana's economic growth.