The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate reversal of the recently announced increases in electricity and water tariffs, accusing the government of shifting the cost of its own inefficiencies onto consumers.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has approved a 9 percent increase in electricity tariffs and more than a 15 percent hike in water tariffs, set to take effect next year. The regulator says the adjustments form part of its five-year major tariff review.
However, addressing the media in Parliament, Ranking Member on the Energy Committee and MP for Asene-Manso-Akroso, George Aboagye, condemned the increments, describing them as insensitive and economically damaging.
“Without wasting much time, we, the Minority Caucus, strongly condemn the government’s relentless and unjustifiable increases in electricity tariffs, which have now accumulated to a staggering 28.14% within a short period,” he said.
Mr. Aboagye argued that the tariff hikes come at a time when technical and commercial losses in the power sector remain as high as 32 percent, a situation he said the government has failed to address.
“Why does the government ignore this reality and instead impose measures that further impoverish Ghanaians? Instead of fixing the system, the government has chosen the lazy path of shifting its failures onto already suffering consumers,” he added.
He warned that the increases would wipe out recent wage adjustments and severely impact households and businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
“These tariff hikes are not reforms, they are punishment. They are not solutions, they are symptoms of failed leadership and poor policy choices,” Mr. Aboagye stated.
The Minority listed potential consequences of the tariff increments, including rising utility poverty, the collapse of SMEs, job losses, reduced productivity, and deepening social hardship.
The caucus vowed to resist the increases, insisting they must be reversed immediately.
“Our position remains firm and non-negotiable. These tariff hikes must be reversed immediately and measures must be taken to protect consumers and sustain businesses,” Mr. Aboagye said, adding that the Minority would use all parliamentary tools to demand accountability and transparency in the management of public utilities.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
