Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said President John Dramani Mahama’s new year gift to Ghanaians is a cost-of-living burden.
The NPP’s Director of Communications noted the PURC announcement of a multi-year tariff review process covering 2026 to 2030.
According to the PURC, electricity tariffs will rise by 9.86 per cent across all customer categories, and water tariffs will rise by 15.92 per cent.
The PURC noted that the adjustments were necessary to meet the investment requirements of utility providers and also to ensure industry competitiveness and consumer interests.
On electricity tariffs, they based their adjustment on the cedi–US dollar exchange rate and the cost of natural gas.
However, water tariffs were based on “projected production and sales volumes, non-revenue water levels, expected capital investment requirements, and prevailing macroeconomic conditions”.
They further added that “Residential consumers’ charges will rise across consumption bands. Non-residential, commercial, industrial and public institutions will also see higher rates. Service charges generally remain unchanged”.
Reacting to the news, Richard Ahiagbah took to social media and wrote, “The verdict of time…
President John Dramani Mahama’s New Year’s gift to Ghanaians is an increased cost-of-living burden, effective January 1, 2026.
Electricity rates will increase by 10%, while water tariffs will rise by 16%”.
He added that despite the soaring tariffs, the Mahama administration could only offer a measly 9% increase in minimum wage.
Mr Ahiagbah added, “Amid these soaring tariffs, the President could only offer a measly 9% increase in minimum wage.
Did we go or did we come?”
However, some Ghanaians have issued a sharp reply to Richard Ahiagbah’s verdict, saying, “Thankfully, we have been trained well by the NPP on living in extreme hardships and graduated with flying colours, so Mahama’s New Year’s gift seems like child’s play in comparison!!”.
“All over the world, wage negotiations are based on projected inflation. The question is whether BOG (authority for inflation targeting) is operationally independent? Let’s avoid using 2 items from the basket as a basis for questioning the credibility of the negotiated salaries”, a netizen added.
One more X user quizzed, “Where are you expecting him to get the money to treat the water your government and his cronies have destroyed for eight years?”
A netizen added, “Ghanaians will always remember your NPP party, the pains you have inflicted on them, if not because of democracy and cheap politics, where would I have been in Ghana today? Sometimes ask yourself this very question. Your NPP party is no longer attractive to the people of Ghana”.
Another Ghanaian added, “No wonder you’ve been relegated to the background in the NPP. This platform (X) is for discerning minds who are able to analyse, contextualise issues & conclude with elements of critical thinking. These increases are better in a B status economy than in a JUNK economy. Relax”.
One last X user added, “We experienced worse under your leadership. You won’t wait to see this government fail so badly. Under NPP, the dollar rose to 17, and fuel was around 15-16. You people don’t even have the moral right to comment on anything in this country, considering what you did”.
See the post below:
The verdict of time…
— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) December 3, 2025
President John Dramani Mahama's New Year's gift to Ghanaians is an increased cost-of-living burden, effective January 1, 2026.
Electricity rates will increase by 10%, while water tariffs will rise by 16%.
Amid these soaring tariffs, the President could…