Kofi Tonto, a political aide to former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has criticized the current administration and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for allegedly misleading the public by attributing recent electricity tariff hikes to directives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Mr. Tonto argued that while the IMF encourages periodic reviews of utility tariffs, it does not mandate automatic or specific increases. Instead, he stressed that pricing decisions remain firmly under the control of the government.
“Do not allow anyone to lie to you that IMF adjustments necessarily mean increments. It does not!” he asserted.
He clarified that the IMF’s recommendations aim to ensure that tariffs reflect the true cost of production and are financially sustainable, but the implementation details are left to local policymakers.
Mr. Tonto cited the first quarter of 2024 as an example, noting that under the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-led administration, electricity tariffs were actually reduced for both residential and commercial users, with water tariffs remaining unchanged.
He also pointed to historical precedent under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership during a previous IMF program, highlighting a 17.5% reduction in electricity tariffs in 2018.
“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 said.
Mr. Tonto contrasted the NPP’s approach with the NDC’s current handling of tariffs, noting that while the NPP oversaw a 6.47% increase in 2024, the NDC has raised tariffs by 14.75%.
He concluded by urging the public to critically assess the facts and reject political narratives that blame external partners like the IMF for domestic decisions.
“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,” he said.
