Sammi Awuku, Member of Parliament for Akuapem North
Sammi Awuku, Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, has launched a blistering attack on the NDC government over the latest increases in electricity and water tariffs, describing the development as a cruel betrayal of Ghanaians on a day meant to celebrate the country's republican ideals.
In a strongly worded post on his official Facebook page to mark Republic Day on July 3, 2026, the MP questioned why Ghanaians continue to face rising utility bills despite repeated assurances from the government that inflation is declining and the cedi has strengthened.
What should have been a day of national pride, he suggested, has instead become a painful reminder of the worsening economic burden on ordinary citizens.
"Republic Day," in his view, has effectively become "Tariff Day."
According to Awuku, the latest adjustment in electricity and water tariffs, which took effect on July 1, represents the fifth utility tariff increase under the NDC administration in just 18 months.
To him, the timing could not have been more ironic.
While government officials continue to celebrate improving macroeconomic indicators, he argued that ordinary Ghanaians are left grappling with the harsh realities of rising household expenses.
"If the economy is doing so well, why are the bills of ordinary Ghanaians getting heavier with almost every tariff review?" he asked in the Facebook post.
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The Akuapem North MP maintained that inflation figures and exchange rate gains mean little to citizens who must find money to pay their electricity and water bills every month.
He argued that market women, barbers, teachers, hairdressers, welders, cold store operators, young entrepreneurs and countless households cannot pay utility providers with economic statistics.
According to him, these are the people bearing the full weight of every tariff increase while the government celebrates what he described as disconnected economic achievements.
Awuku further lamented that the latest tariff hikes have come at a time when many communities are still recovering from floods, businesses continue to battle recurring power outages, and families are struggling with the high cost of living.
Rather than easing the burden, he contended, the government has chosen to impose additional hardship on already distressed households.
In his Facebook post, the MP outlined what he described as a worrying pattern of successive tariff adjustments since the NDC assumed office.
He noted that electricity tariffs increased by 14.75 per cent in May 2025, while water tariffs rose by 4.02 percent.
Electricity tariffs went up again by 2.45 percent in July 2025, followed by another 1.14 percent increase in October 2025.
In January 2026, electricity tariffs rose by 9.86 percent, while water tariffs increased by 15.92 percent. Effective July 1, 2026, electricity tariffs have again increased by 3.49 per cent, with water tariffs rising by 0.85 per cent.
To the MP, the repeated adjustments have transformed tariff reviews from occasional policy measures into what he described as an unwelcome routine for struggling citizens.
He concluded that Ghanaians were promised relief but are instead confronting an endless cycle of increases that continues to squeeze household incomes.
His message to the government was unequivocal, "Enough is enough."
SSM
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