Outraged residents of Nungua, Teshie and Labadi, took to the the streets of Accra in their numbers, to show their displeasure with what they call the ‘killer tariffs’ by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Wielding placards with various inscriptions depicting their anger at the government, the demonstrators called on government to reduce the suffocating tariffs, or face many more of such actions from them.
Clad in red and black apparel, the angry residents demonstrated through major streets of the three communities.
They are demanding immediate reduction in the cost of power, arguing that the high bills are collapsing their businesses and making their lives unbearable.
Citi News’ Philip Nii Lartey, who was amidst the demonstrators, said the demonstrators called on President Mahama to directly intervene in the tariff situation.
One of the protesters directed his appeal to the Electricity Company of Ghana, and the Municipal Chief Executive for the area.
Another resident also expressed displeasure with the positioning of ECG meters outside their homes, and demanded the meters be moved back into their residences.
“We are also pleading to ECG to take the meters from the poles and send it to our various homes. This is what we are asking the government to do for us.”
Suspend ‘problematic’ billing software – PURC to ECG
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), in May 2016, instructed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), to suspend the implementation of their new billing software until further notice.
A statement signed by the PURC’s Public Relations Director, Nana Yaa Jantuah, said the directive was necessitated by incessant complaints from customers who alleged that they were being over-billed by the ECG.
But staff of ECG have accused government of being responsible for the high tariffs following the increases and the introduction of taxes.
Electricity tariffs up by 59.2%, water 67.2% ahead of Christmas
The PURC late last year sanctioned an increase of 59.2 percent and 67.2 percent for electricity and water tariffs respectively. But businesses and individuals expressed displeasure with the increase which they described as astronomical.
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Photo credit: Philip Nii Lartey
By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana