Claim: John Jinapor slams John Mahama for increasing electricity tariffs

Source: Social media (X)

Verdict: Misleading

Researched by Samuel Nii Adjetey 

An old video of the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, criticizing the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government for increasing electricity tariffs, has resurfaced and is being portrayed online as the minister criticizing his own government. 

The 28-second video bears the logo of GhanaWeb, a popular digital media platform in Ghana, with the caption: “Government is forcing PURC to increase electricity tariffs astronomically- Jinapor alleges.”

The video shared by an X user on April 12, 2025, comes with the caption: “The energy minister, John Jinapor, slams John Mahama for increasing the electricity tariffs, says, Ghanaians are going through excruciating poverty…”A screengrab of the post on X

In the video, the minister is heard saying: “Ghanaians are going through excruciating poverty. Ghanaians are going through untold hardship. Indeed, today, if you talk to the ordinary Ghanaian, how to make three square meals is a major, major challenge. 

“There are reports of food shortages in our various markets. There are reports of fuel rationing at the various pumps. And so this is not the time to exacerbate and increase the burden of the ordinary Ghanaian with such electricity hikes and tariffs. We call on civil society…”

GhanaFact has identified multiple social media users who have recirculated the video on X with similar captions. 

Background

The video began circulating after the announcement of tariff adjustments by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in early April 2025.

The latest quarterly tariff review includes a 14.75% increase in electricity tariffs and a 4.02% rise in water tariffs, which takes effect from May 3, 2025. 

This fact-check seeks to verify the authenticity of the video. 

Fact-check

GhanaFact investigation shows that the video was first shared on the YouTube channel of GhanaWeb on June 30, 2022.

The original video is 4 minutes long and shows the Minister of Energy, who was then the Ranking Member on the Energy Committee, at a press conference criticising tariff adjustments under the Akufo-Addo government.

A screengrab of the original video on GhanaWeb’s YouTube page

From the above, the video in circulation is an old video that has been sliced to drive a certain narrative. It is not a recent comment by the Minister. Hence, the post that John Jinapor has criticised President Mahama for increasing electricity tariffs is misleading. 

Verdict

Therefore, the claim is rated misleading!