Utility Tariffs Increase: We Need a Legislation To Protect Consumers - Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro MP
Member of Parliament(MP) for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh is calling for a legislation to protect utility consumers following the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) demands for increments in tariffs.
ECG has requested a 148 percent increase in electricity tariffs and the GWCL also says they want 334 percent in water prices.
They claim their demands for the huge increases in tariffs are due to a rising inflation and declining foreign exchange rates over a three-year period which have adversely impacted their operations.
The companies insist that the proposed percentages will help them to be more efficient and deliver enhanced service to consumers.
But to the MP for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, the companies' demands are extortionate, therefore stressing, "it's about time we have to legislate for consumer protection and create space to protect consumers in this country".
"We cannot continue to pay for their inefficiencies. So, they should come clean and I hope it is not one of their tricks to get the people of Ghana coerced to pay," he accentuated.
Sylvester Tetteh appealed to the regulatory body, PURC, and government not to tolerate such increments.
"Look, the situation we're in today, I'm not too sure but the President I know, the cabinet I know will not fall for this . . . We should not even entertain in the first place that today you're proposing 300 percent. It doesn't make sense. What is the justification for 300 and more percentage increment for water?"
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