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A prominent NPP member is confident that Ghanaians will be willing to pay higher utility rates in order to benefit from the services provided.
According to Gabby Otchere-Darko, the populace is prepared to support the government in the event of “dumsor,” as power outages are commonly known.
The founder of the Danquah Institute asked that Ghanaians recognize the government’s efforts to maintain the lights on.
Thus, the outspoken politician voiced his satisfaction and confidence in the situation.
“I’m encouraged by the reaction of the Ghanaian people to the 27% increase in electricity tariffs.”
“It shows when you do well they appreciate, like efforts by this govt to keep the lights on and tariffs low in spite of the major challenges and will pay a little more to avoid dumsor,” On August 16, he tweeted this statement.
His tweet follows the increase in utility rates announced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) on Monday, August 15.
On September 1, 2022, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will enact new tariffs.
Electricity and water rates are anticipated to increase by 27.15% and 21.55%, respectively.
In the aforementioned release, the PURC acknowledged the financial challenges that consumers were facing, but added that without these price hikes, the utility suppliers might not be able to fulfill their purpose.
“In balancing interests of the service providers and consumers, the PURC acknowledged that the very economic variables that have occasioned the steep increases proposed by the service providers also affect the consumers.
The Commission did concede that some utility price hikes were unavoidable if the country was to avoid another power crisis and all of its consequences, including job losses.
On August 15, 2022, the Chairman of the PURC, Mr. Ebo Quagraine, addressed journalists in Accra and urged the public to help utility firms recover losses by reporting unauthorized connections.
The ECG had suggested raising its charges by 148% in 2022 and by an average of 7.6% throughout the years 2023 to 2026.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
