PURC pretending, utility tariff increase imminent – Minority

The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament says Ghanaians must brace themselves for hikes in utility tariffs because it forms part of the conditions the country committed itself to the IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who addressed journalists at a press conference Friday moments after the 2016 budget presentation on the floor of the House by the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, said the tariff increase is imminent.

The PURC is currently studying proposals from the utility service providers for an increase in utility tariffs to enable them deliver efficiently.

To enable it arrive at a decision, the Commission has been engaging its stakeholders, listening to their views about the proposals and concerns about the performance of the utility service providers for the last three quarters under review.

However, the Minority sees the actions of the PURC as deceptive since the government has already committed itself to increasing utility tariffs under the country’s bailout program with the IMF.

“Government has already committed under the IMF program to increasing utility tariffs. The PURC purported consultations with the public on the utility price increase is just a charade. They are as usual throwing dust into the eyes of Ghanaians,” said the Minority Leader who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame.