The People’s Forum has formally petitioned the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) over the rising cost of electricity, urging the regulator to halt further tariff increases and review current charges to ease the burden on consumers.
In a petition dated March 10, 2026, and addressed to the Executive Secretary of the commission, the advocacy group said the concerns were based on findings from a public forum it organised to gather views from citizens on escalating electricity costs.
According to the group, participants from various sectors of the economy expressed frustration over what they described as the growing financial pressure caused by recent tariff adjustments.
The petition, signed by Team Lead Dennis Miracles Aboagye, stated that the high cost of electricity is affecting households and businesses, with some small enterprises reportedly scaling down operations or shutting down due to rising energy bills and unreliable supply.
The group noted that trend analysis of electricity tariffs between 2009 and 2024 shows a pattern of steep increases that have disproportionately affected vulnerable consumers.
It indicated that cumulative tariff increases between 2009 and 2016 reached 294.6 percent—an average of 36.8 percent annually—compared to 84.6 percent between 2017 and 2024, averaging about 10.57 percent per year.
However, the petition argued that adjustments in 2025 and 2026 appear to deviate from the earlier moderate trajectory, worsening the financial strain on consumers despite improvements in some macroeconomic indicators.
The forum cited the case of broadcast journalist Kojo Akoto Boateng of Joy FM, whose weekly electricity expenditure reportedly increased from GH¢225 in 2024 to GH¢449 in 2026.
According to the petition, the rise in electricity costs appears inconsistent with broader economic trends, including declining fuel prices, an improving exchange rate and reduced inflation.
The group also challenged claims that tariff adjustments are driven by conditions under the International Monetary Fund programme, arguing that IMF documents do not mandate automatic quarterly electricity tariff increases.
The People’s Forum therefore urged PURC to halt any planned tariff increases at the end of the first quarter of 2026 and instead consider reducing the current effective cost of electricity.
The forum also expressed readiness to engage the regulator in further discussions aimed at ensuring electricity tariffs remain fair, transparent and affordable for Ghanaians.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
