The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has strongly condemned the latest adjustments to electricity and water tariffs, describing the increases as harsh, insensitive, and worse than “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

In a statement signed by Secretary General Joshua Ansah, the TUC expressed outrage at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s announcement of 9.8% electricity and 15.9% water tariff increases, set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

The union said the decision is particularly troubling because it coincides with the implementation of a 9% increase in the minimum wage and base pay, which workers had already described as inadequate.

"This increment has completely eroded the 9% wage adjustment for 2026. Clearly, government is demonstrating its insensitivity to the daily struggles of workers and Ghanaians.

In plain language government has robbed the poor Ghanaian worker of the 9% wage increase it had agreed to implement on January 1, 2026. What the Government has done is worse than robbing "Peter to pay Paul,"' portions of the statement read.

The TUC recalled that in 2025, government granted a 10% wage increase while electricity tariffs rose by more than 18% cumulatively. With the high cost of living still biting hard, the union said workers had hoped for some respite, not another surprise hike in utility charges.

"The increases are to take effect from January 1, 2026, the very day the paltry 9% increase in the minimum wage and the base Pay by the government will also take effect. This can only be described as the Government’s New Year’s gift to Ghanaians."

The union insists workers will not accept the new tariffs unless government returns to the negotiating table to review the 2026 wage increase upward.

TUC further warned that if government fails to respond, it will mobilise workers to resist the “insensitive” tariff adjustments.

"On Monday, 8 December 2025, the TUC/Organised Labour will hold a press conference on these insensitive price increases. At the press conference, we will outline measures to address this obnoxious tariff increase," it added.