High tariffs could increase illegal connection

Some Ghanaians have warned that the incidence of illegal connection could increase following the recent increase in utility tariffs.

Civil society organisations, pressure groups and ordinary Ghanaians are yet to come to terms with the 78.9% and 52% increase in electricity and water tarrifs respectively.

The atmosphere in Ghana is clouded with the parlance – ‘enough is enough’.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) should sit up because some consumers who spoke to The Independent have threatened to embark on massive illegal connection.

“We are even grappling so hard to pay the old prices of electricity and water supply. With these new tariffs, guess what will happen”, a mobile phone repairer told this paper.

Some traders who spoke to The Independent are very angry with the tariff increments. According to them, they cannot afford to pay the new prices of electricity when ECG has totally failed to provide the country with uninterrupted power for domestic activities and productivity.

According to the PURC, these upward adjustments will aid the two utility service providers to meet some key operational and maintenance costs.

Traders in the market have indicated that for the past months, patronage of goods and services in the market have remained very low due to the upward adjustment in prices of goods and services on the market.

These sentiments are attributed to the fact that almost every consumer products is being taxed right from the streets to the bedroom.

The government has imposed one percent tax on condoms, the price of petroleum products was increased by 20% this month, followed by 78.9% and 52% upward adjustments for electricity and water respectively, within the same month, yet salaries of workers remain the same.