TUC Condemns PURC's Premature Tariff Announcement

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for announcing new electricity and water tariffs without finalizing consultations with organized labour.

Dr. Ken Tweneboa Kodua, Vice Chair of the TUC, criticized the PURC’s decision, stating it disregarded an ongoing process aimed at establishing a tariff structure acceptable to Ghanaian workers. He voiced these concerns during an interview on Citi FM on Monday, December 8.

According to Dr. Kodua, the sudden announcement casts doubt on the PURC’s commitment to fairness and transparent engagement. He explained that the TUC was actively collaborating with the Commission to formulate a realistic tariff proposal when the process was unexpectedly terminated.

“The procedure was not fully followed. We were working together to design a fair and realistic tariff that we could defend to our members. That process was cut short, and then the new tariffs were announced,” Dr. Kodua said.

He further emphasized the need for the PURC to justify its decision to bypass the established consultative framework. “That decision was not respectful and does not reflect fairness in our partnership. PURC started the engagement with TUC, so why they halted the process and went ahead with the announcement needs to be addressed,” he stressed.

The TUC fears that such actions could erode the trust necessary for effective collaboration between the two bodies.

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