The Volta Regional Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Emmanuel Senyo Amekplenu, has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to order an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in electricity tariff determination and governance at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
In a petition dated September 14, 2026, Amekplenu raised concerns over alleged preferential electricity tariffs for some steel companies, an Electricity Market Oversight Panel (EMOP)-related levy, alleged interference by PURC Board members in the Commission’s administration, and the approval of a tariff for the AkSA Power Takoradi project.
He said the issues could have implications for consumers, businesses, public finances and confidence in Ghana’s electricity regulatory system.
“I raise these matters because of their potential implications for consumer protection, fair competition, public finances, the integrity of Ghana’s regulatory institutions, and confidence in the electricity market,” Amekplenu said.
On electricity tariffs, Amekplenu cited PURC’s 2026 third-quarter tariff schedule, which he said showed a rate of 136 pesewas per kilowatt-hour for the SLT-MV 2 special group, compared with 208 pesewas for SLT-MV and 240 pesewas for SLT low-voltage Ghanaian businesses.
He alleged that the lower rate could place other Ghanaian businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
He also asked the President to investigate information suggesting that about GH¢5 million may have been contributed by some affected steel companies in connection with the tariff review.
He stressed, however, that the claim had not been independently established.
“I do not have written correspondence from the companies confirming this information. The information was conveyed to me orally during conversations with persons associated with the companies,” he said.
“I therefore do not present this information as an established fact. Rather, given the seriousness of the allegation and its potential implications for the integrity of the tariff-setting process, I respectfully request that it be independently verified.”
Amekplenu also challenged the legality of an EMOP-related levy incorporated into electricity tariffs.
He said information obtained through Right to Information requests to EMOP and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) indicated that more than GH¢2 million had been recovered and paid into EMOP’s account between January and July 2026.
He is seeking a legal, administrative and financial investigation into the authority for the levy, the amounts recovered from consumers and how the funds have been used.
The petitioner further alleged excessive interference by the PURC Board in the Commission’s day-to-day administration, saying this had created uneasiness within the institution and could affect staff morale and productivity.
He also called for an investigation into reports that executives of the PURC staff union had allegedly received threatening telephone calls from persons said to be Board members.
Amekplenu also wants the circumstances surrounding the appointment of a former PURC staff member to the Commission’s Board examined, particularly allegations of selective or retaliatory treatment of some staff.
“I wish to emphasize that I do not present these allegations as established facts. I respectfully ask for an independent investigation to establish or disprove them,” he said.
He further raised concerns about the approval of a tariff for the AkSA Power Takoradi project, calling for an investigation into whether the project had obtained all requisite regulatory approvals before its tariff was approved, as well as the methodology used to determine the tariff and whether applicable regulatory and procurement requirements were followed.
Amekplenu has asked the President to refer relevant aspects of the petition to institutions including the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Auditor-General, the Public Services Commission, the State Interests and Governance Authority and the Energy Commission.
He is also seeking corrective action where any tariff, levy or regulatory decision is found to have been made unlawfully or through improper processes.
“The purpose of this petition is therefore not to declare any person guilty, but to request that the competent authorities establish the facts and take appropriate action based on the evidence,” Amekplenu said.
He said an independent investigation would help establish whether the allegations have merit and strengthen confidence in PURC and Ghana’s electricity regulatory framework.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
