The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has strongly criticised the recent increases in electricity and water tariffs, accusing the government of acting in “bad faith” barely weeks after concluding negotiations on the 2026 minimum wage and base pay.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News on Thursday, December 4, Mr. Joshua Ansah, Secretary General of the TUC, said the new tariff adjustments 9% for electricity and over 15% for water effectively cancel out the 9% wage increase agreed upon by the Tripartite Committee.
According to him, the cumulative impact of the tariff hikes leaves workers worse off, despite the hard-fought wage negotiations.
Mr. Ansah noted a stark mismatch between the recently approved 9% increase in the minimum wage and base pay and the immediate imposition of the new utility charges.
The Tripartite Committee, made up of government, employers, and organised labour, agreed on a 9% upward adjustment in wages for the 2026 fiscal year. But just two to three weeks after that decision, the government announced the new utility tariffs—an outcome the TUC describes as unacceptable.
Citing the financial implications to illustrate their frustration, Mr. Ansah said:
“Just a few weeks ago, the Tripartite Committee came up with a percentage of 9% as base pay and the minimum wage for Ghanaian workers. And just after 2–3 weeks, the government decides to slap us with an increase of 9% in the electricity and 15% plus in the water.”
He explained that the combined effect of both tariffs amounts to nearly 24%, far exceeding the agreed 9% wage increase and resulting in a negative real income for workers.
“Because you cannot give us 9% and also come back with the tariff of 9% and 15%, which is about 24%. This means that you are giving, taking your 9% and also giving us a negative 15%. And we think that workers cannot accept that. That’s why TUC is saying that this increase is unacceptable and the government must come again.”
TUC demands full withdrawal of tariff increases
Mr. Ansah said the TUC’s primary demand is the complete withdrawal of the tariff increments, insisting that organised labour is “not even interested in any salary top-up” at this point.
“As for the two options that we stated in our statement, we want to consider the complete withdrawal of the tariff increases. We are not even interested in the top up of the salary.”
However, he stressed that if the government refuses to reverse the tariffs, then it must be ready to renegotiate the entire base pay and minimum wage structure to compensate workers for the sudden surge in the cost of essential utilities.
“But if the government thinks that it cannot withdraw, then there’s a need for the government to renegotiate the 9%. Because you cannot give somebody 9 cedis and ask them to go and pay 24 cedis.”
The TUC’s strong position underscores the rising pressure on household incomes amid high inflation and escalating utility charges, piling additional pressure on government to justify the timing and necessity of the latest tariff adjustments.
GHBUSS
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