PURC Sparks National Dialogue in Kumasi Over 2025-2030 Utility Tariff Plan

PURC Sparks National Dialogue in Kumasi Over 2025-2030 Utility Tariff Plan

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has ignited a major public conversation on Ghana’s utility pricing structure as it hosted a regional public hearing in the Ashanti Region on the proposed Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) for 2025–2030.

The well-attended event, held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, forms part of the Commission’s nationwide stakeholder engagement series designed to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in Ghana’s utility tariff review process.

The forum brought together key players in the energy and water sectors, including the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and Ghana Water Limited (GWL), alongside consumer groups, local government officials, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and the media.

Addressing participants, the Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Shafic Suleman, reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to fairness, transparency, and economic balance in determining new tariffs for the next five years.

“The MYTO is not just a technical or mathematical exercise — it is about people,” Dr. Suleman emphasized. “Our goal is not necessarily to increase or reduce tariffs, but to listen, to explain, and to ensure that every decision reflects the realities faced by both consumers and service providers.”

He explained that the proposed MYTO framework is aimed at providing predictability and stability in utility pricing, while also ensuring that service providers can make the critical investments required to improve electricity and water delivery across the country.

Officials from the various utility companies presented detailed submissions outlining their operational challenges, investment needs, and strategic plans for improving service delivery.

Representatives from VRA highlighted the growing cost of power generation and the need for continuous investment in renewable energy and plant maintenance.
GRIDCo drew attention to the high cost of transmission infrastructure and the urgent need to replace aging lines and transformers to enhance system reliability.
ECG emphasized the need to reduce power theft and improve metering systems, while GWL called for adequate cost recovery to sustain water supply and expand access to underserved communities.

Participants at the forum, including traditional leaders, business operators, and members of the public, lauded the PURC for taking its consultations to the regional level. They, however, urged the Commission and utility providers to ensure that improved service quality accompanies any future tariff adjustments.

Concerns raised centered around frequent power interruptions, irregular water supply, billing inaccuracies, and the impact of rising utility costs on households and businesses.

A representative of civil society urged the Commission to intensify public education on the tariff-setting process to help citizens better understand the factors that influence price changes.

Regional officials and energy experts at the event described the engagement as a step in the right direction, noting that involving the public in such discussions builds trust and strengthens regulatory accountability.

Dr. Suleman concluded by reaffirming the PURC’s resolve to balance consumer protection with the financial sustainability of utility service providers, stressing that the Commission would carefully analyze all submissions before finalizing the MYTO for implementation in 2025.

The Ashanti Regional session forms part of a nationwide stakeholder consultation tour, with similar engagements scheduled across all sixteen regions of Ghana to gather public input before the final tariff structure is approved.