PARTICIPANTS at the public forum in Ho, in the Volta Region, have expressed their opposition to the initiative by the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) to raise utility tariffs.
They described the initiative as unnecessary, stating that if approved, it would exacerbate the economic difficulties faced by citizens.
The forum was organised by the PURC to encourage the public to accept an increase in water and electricity tariffs.
They argued that the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) could operate efficiently and generate profits if both utility service providers addressed the loopholes in their revenue generation processes.
Speaking at a Volta Regional public forum on Tuesday to solicit the views of the residents on possible increased tariff or not was attended by chiefs, civil society groups, traders and civil servants.
The participants indicated that the GWCL and the ECG must address all waste issues within the revenue generation system, including unattended burst pipelines for weeks and illegal power connections, which could enhance their revenue generation.
They also lamented that the victims of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams spillage in the three North Tongu Districts had not received compensation, while the authorities seemed solely focused on imposing high tariffs on citizens, disregarding the economic difficulties they face.
“Governments consistently promise improved living conditions for the populace; however, they often fail to fulfill these commitments,” they said.
They expressed surprise that nine months into the new administration, high tariffs were the primary concern for Ghanaians as the government remained passive.
The participants contended that the PURC, meant to advocate consumer interests, appeared to consistently support utility service providers at the expense of consumers, stressing that the time had come for both service providers to exhibit a higher level of competence in managing their organisations.
“How can it be that after passengers have paid for their bus fares, the driver then demands additional money from them to repair the vehicle whenever it breaks down? This is precisely what the GWCL and ECG continue to do; it is illogical.”
The Chairman of the Board at the PURC, Mr Moses Asaga, refuted the assertion that the regulator typically favors utility service providers over the public.
He stated that his organisation would consistently evaluate the circumstances presented by service providers alongside the concerns of citizens prior to making any decisions.
Mr Asaga clarified that the proposals submitted by utility service providers for tariff increases remained merely proposals at this stage, and the interests of consumers will be taken into account before a final decision is made regarding the necessity of a tariff hike.
Mr Michael Tawiah Klutse, the Chief Manager of Corporate Planning and Evaluation at GWCL, indicated that an increase in tariffs was essential for enhancing service delivery to customers, which has become imperative.
However, Mr Klutse cautioned that the Volta River was increasingly being contaminated due to sand mining activities.
He warned that if proactive measures were not implemented to halt the pollution, similar contamination of water bodies in areas affected by small-scale mining, commonly referred to as ‘galamse’, could also occur in the Volta Lake.
Mr Moses Okley, the General Manager of Finance and Planning at ECG, stated that an upward adjustment of tariffs was crucial for improving service delivery.
He noted that bush burning posed a significant challenge for ECG in rural regions, as it led to the destruction of electricity poles, resulting in losses amounting to thousands of cedis.
FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, HO
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