Ghana’s Tariff Increments distributing- Occupy Ghana

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Anti Government pressure group, Occupy Ghana has expressed utmost shock at the tariff increments approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission.

PURC
PURC

The PURC announced this afternoon the increases of 6.54 percent for electricity with the prices of water going up by 4.54 percent.
However, because of the poor quality of water service delivery being meted out by the Ghana Water Company, the Commission has decided not to pass on the Tariff for water until the challenges are fixed.
The last time the PURC adjusted utility tariffs was in July this year.
Electricity tariffs went up by 6.1 percent while water tariffs were increased by 12 percent.
According to a statement issued and signed by Chairman of the Commission, Dr Emmanuel K. Annan, ?the increases have been necessitated due to the shift to crude oil for generation of power occasioned by erratic gas supply from Nigeria. The Commission also in its deliberations considered the current inadequate electricity supply situation which has resulted in load shedding in the country and its impact on Consumers and Customers of Electricity and water.?
But Occupy Ghana has rejected this justification for an increment as it doesn?t match a wage increase.
?This is really frustrating, it comes as a rude shock to me, in that we have a situation where electricity tariffs are being increased yet the minimum wage is still constant, you are telling me to pay more for electricity and water which I?m not getting on a daily basis, yet the money you are paying me for turning up to work daily is not increasing? he lamented.
Speaking in an interview with Live News? Ekow Annan, Convener of the group, Nana Akwasi Awuah said this upward adjustment goes once more to confirm the NDC government?s insensitivity to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.
?What government is telling us is that, we don?t care, whether you can pay or not is up to you….there?s the need to revisit the increment,? he added.
These increases in tariffs though marginal are set to annoy many as Ghanaians have for more than one year now been enduring, power and water rationing.
Many have expressed frustrations at the development, but the managers of the power systems say there is little they can do under the circumstances and reiterated the PURC?s commitment to protecting the interest of consumers.
?The Commission wishes to restate its commitment to ensuring the highest standards of Utility Service Delivery to all customers and consumers of Electricity and Water.
The PURC is mandated to protect the interest of the consumer and ensure the financial viability of the Utility Service Provider.?

 

Source: Ekow Annan/Live FM

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