PURC, not Mahama, determines utility tariffs – NDC

It is the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) that has the mandate to regulate utility tariffs in Ghana, not President John Dramani Mahama, the Northern Regional Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abdul Moomin Alhassan, has said.

He has, therefore, asked the general public to direct the pressure for a reduction in utility tariffs to the PURC.

Various opposition parties with branches in the Northern Region held a joint press conference on Wednesday June 29, 2016, where they gave the government a week’s ultimatum to ensure a significant reduction in the cost of power.

The group threatened to demonstrate against the government if their demand was not met. The parties claimed many local businesses had collapsed as a result of killer power tariffs.

Although he admitted the call was genuine, he said it was being directed at the wrong person, in this case President Mahama, because “they know it is not the responsibility of the president to reduce prices”.

He told Accra-based Citi FM on Thursday June 30 that: “This is just an issue to say that because they have no campaign issue, they are just trying to survive, he said, adding, “The issue of electricity is legitimate, but it should be directed at the right quarters. For them to call on the president to intervene, I think they know so well the PURC has the right to go into the issue of price hikes, not the president. We think it is a bogus press conference".