Kofi Tonto, a political aide to former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has publicly challenged the current government and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing them of intentionally misrepresenting the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) role in recent electricity tariff increases.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Mr. Tonto stressed that while the IMF may have called for a tariff review, this does not automatically translate to a mandatory increase. He argued that the government maintains complete authority over the timing and extent of any tariff adjustments, even within an IMF program.
“Do not allow anyone to lie to you that IMF adjustments necessarily mean increments. It does not!” Mr. Tonto declared. “The IMF’s call for review does not automatically mean an increment. It is a call to ensure that tariffs are realistic and sustainable.”
Drawing on past examples, Mr. Tonto highlighted that during the first quarter of 2024, under the previous NPP administration, electricity tariffs were actually reduced for both residential and non-residential users, while water tariffs remained stable.
He further countered the idea that the IMF invariably demands steep tariff hikes, pointing to a precedent set during the Akufo-Addo administration. “In 2018, under an IMF program, Akufo-Addo decreased tariffs by 17.5%. So how could it be that the IMF only demands increases? The evidence simply doesn’t support that claim,” he asserted.
Mr. Tonto contrasted the NPP’s past actions with the recent tariff adjustments implemented by the NDC, noting that while the total tariff increase under the NPP for 2024 was 6.47%, the NDC has increased it by a significantly higher 14.75%.
He urged the Ghanaian public to examine the facts carefully and resist political narratives that falsely attribute local policy decisions to external bodies like the IMF.
“There is science behind tariff reviews, yes—but there’s also a responsibility to apply a human face to the decisions. That’s what the NPP demonstrated, and that’s what must continue,” Mr. Tonto concluded.
