Utility Tariffs: We're in ‘serious distress’ - Baako cries

Kweku Baako has called on the government and the major players in energy sector to devise better methods to address the headache of electricity bills on Ghanaians.

He blamed the government, the Public Utility Regulatory Commission and the Electricity Company of Ghana for the energy hardships confronting electricity consumers.

The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) has recently picked a bone of contention with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over the latter's electricity billing software.

Several Ghanaians have lodged bitter complaints about the astronomical bills they have to pay to the ECG though they don't enjoy regular power supply.

In view of this, the PURC has ordered the ECG to review the software, which to the Commission, is a catalyst to the high electricity bills.

But the Unionised Workers of the ECG have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the PURC to withdraw its directive or else the workers will embark on a massive strike.

The Commission has reportedly dared the ECG to proceed with their intended action since it is not ready to withdraw the order.

Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Kweku Baako noted that the brouhaha circulating the electricity bills is as a result of the apparent failure of all the major players.

The Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide told sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesse that the three players should jaw-jaw and resolve the issue.

According to him "they are all shareholders in this generation of confusion. Central government is part. ECG is part. PURC is involved.”

He further advised the government to speed up efforts in addressing the issue because "there are victims out there. Casualties out there; domestic consumers and commercial consumers, the economy itself is suffering. Coming out against the backdrop of 3/4 years of dumsor, it is not a healthy sign. I have to be very honest with you. We are dying ... Individually, we are really suffering. We are in serious [serious, serious] serious distress.”