The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has rejected the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) approval of new utility tariff increases, warning of nationwide resistance if the government fails to renegotiate the 2026 wage adjustment.
The PURC, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, announced a 9.86% increase in electricity tariffs and a 15.92% rise in water tariffs, effective January 1, 2026, as part of its multi-year tariff review covering 2026 to 2030.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, and signed by TUC Secretary-General Dr. Joshua Ansah, the umbrella labour body described the tariff hikes as an “insensitive” and “unpleasant New Year’s gift” to workers and ordinary Ghanaians.
The TUC insisted that workers will not accept the increases unless government returns to the negotiating table to “top up” the recently agreed 9% wage increase for 2026, which labour has already described as grossly inadequate.
“Workers cannot accept these increases unless the government comes back to the negotiating table to top up the wage increase for 2026. Anything short of that, the TUC will mobilise workers to resist the implementation of these insensitive increases in utility prices,” the statement read.
The union argued that the new tariffs will completely erode the marginal gains from the 9% base pay and national minimum wage increment, especially coming after electricity tariffs rose by over 18% in 2025 despite only a 10% wage increase that year.
The TUC accused the government of showing gross insensitivity to the plight of workers and households already struggling with high living costs.
The labour collective has scheduled a press conference on Monday, December 8, 2025, to outline its next line of action against what it termed “obnoxious” utility price increases.
Meanwhile, the PURC has defended the adjustments, stating that they are necessary to support investments in the utility sector, improve operational efficiency, and safeguard long-term consumer interests.