The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana has expressed outrage over the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s announcement of increases in electricity and water tariffs by 9.8% and 15.9% respectively.
According to the TUC, the increases are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026—the same day the government’s 9% increase in the minimum wage and base pay will come into force. The Congress described this move as the Government’s New Year’s gift to Ghanaians.
The TUC recalled that in 2025, the government granted a wage increase of 10% while electricity tariffs cumulatively increased by more than 18%. As workers express dissatisfaction with the 9% wage increase for 2026 amid the prevailing high cost of living, the Congress noted that the least workers expected was not a surprise rise in utility prices.
The Congress stated that the latest tariff increment has completely eroded the 9% wage adjustment for 2026 and described the government’s actions as a demonstration of insensitivity to the daily struggles of workers and Ghanaians.
The TUC further remarked that what government has done is worse than robbing “Peter to pay Paul.” In plain language, it said, government has robbed the poor Ghanaian worker of the 9% wage increase it had agreed to implement on January 1, 2026.
The Congress emphasized that workers cannot accept these increases unless government returns to the negotiating table to top up the wage increase for 2026. It warned that anything short of this will compel the TUC to mobilise workers to resist the implementation of what it described as insensitive increases in utility prices.
Meanwhile, the TUC announced that on Monday, 8 December 2025, Organised Labour will hold a press conference to outline measures to address the tariff increase.
The statement was signed by Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the Trades Union Congress, on December 3, 2025.
