Some participants at a forum organised by the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC) in Tamale, have kicked against the proposed increment in utility tariffs.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are requesting a 100 percent increment in tariffs.
They argue that if approved, it will mitigate the impact of the high cost of production.
As arbitrator between the service providers and consumers, the PURC is holding nationwide public fora on the proposals.
Majority of the participants who took turns to share their views, kicked against any upwardly adjustment of the tariffs.
They complained about poor services from the service providers, especially with regards to the ongoing nationwide load shedding exercise.
Ghanaians in the Eastern Region, also kicked against the proposals, when the PURC held a public forum in Koforidua recently.
In the Ashanti Region, barbers and other informal sector workers threatened to hit the streets to demonstrate, if the PURC approves of the upward adjustment of the tariffs.
The PURC’s Director of Public Affairs, Nana Yaa Jantuah on the sidelines of the Tamale forum told Citi News, “The essence of this is legal because the law mandates the PURC to organize public hearings for the utilities whenever they ask for a tariff increase and this process is a major review process.”
She said the service providers have varied challenges which required enough capital to fix them.
“They have different challenges: ECG have their own challenges with expansion and VRA have with crude oil and non availability of electricity and the transmission lines need to be strengthened.”
She however said the Commission will ensure that consumers will have to pay realistic tariffs.
Nana Yaw Jantuah added that the Commission will critically interrogate the service provider proposals to arrive at a reasonable decision.
She disclosed the service providers’ intention to connect all government institutions with prepaid meters.
“Going forward that is the mechanism we are going to put in place to ensure that people don’t owe the utilities as much as they are owing now.”
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana