The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is demanding the immediate suspension of the implementation of  recently announced utility tariff increases.

The labour union warned that government’s failure to act could trigger strong resistance from their rank and file.

Speaking at a news conference in Accra on Dcember 8, Secretary-General of the TUC, Joshua Ansah, condemned the tariff adjustments as unjust and insensitive to the plight of workers.

Last week, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced new tariff rates—9.8 percent for electricity and 15.9 percent for water—a decision that has angered the TUC and its affiliate unions.

Describing the increases as unacceptable, Mr. Ansah called on government to halt their implementation without delay.

“In a spirit of fairness and mutual respect for our social partnership, we demand that government suspends the announced tariff increases. Government and the PURC should, as a matter of priority, immediately engage as agreed to exhaust the consultative process,” he said.

He warned that organised labour would not hesitate to respond firmly if government proceeds with the tariff hike.

“Leadership of the TUC wishes to assure workers that it will resist any tariff increase that will erode the meagre 9 percent government wage adjustment unless government returns to the negotiating table to top up the 2026 wage adjustment,” he added.

Mr. Ansah further urged government to review upward the recently announced 9 percent base pay increase, describing it as inadequate and poorly timed.

“Why should workers pay for a new tariff increment come January 1, 2026, when their meagre 9 percent pay adjustment will be paid at the end of January? This obviously borders on insensitivity,” he argued.