The Minister for Government Communications and Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has accused the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of hypocrisy in its criticism of proposed tariff hikes by utility service providers.
His comments come after the NPP raised concerns over potential increases in charges by the Volta River Authority (VRA), Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and Ghana Water Limited (GWL), among others.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Tuesday, September 16, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the tariff adjustment framework was a conditionality agreed upon by the previous NPP administration under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
“As part of the IMF arrangements that the NPP entered into, they agreed with the IMF as a conditionality for accessing about $300 million when the review that took place before we came to power was completed.
He added, “That was around December 2024, when they were going to do quarterly tariff adjustments. And in September, they will do mid adjustment, which was agreed upon by the NPP. It is cast in stone, classified, and it must also go on record, so when the NPP comes to lament the increase, they are being dubious and hypocritical. They’re not telling the truth, they agreed, we’re bound by it.”
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu further explained that not all proposals submitted by the utilities are accepted, stressing that the government often scales them down.
“It’s not every proposal that is accepted. Almost every time, their proposals are substantially reduced,” he said, adding that he was confident the current proposals would not fully reflect in the final adjustments.
“I’m confident that those figures in the proposals will not reflect in the tariffs.
