Tariffs Increment: Tackle Operational Inefficiencies Instead- GUTA

The Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA) has urged the relevant authorities to focus on tackling the inefficiencies in their system and operations instead of the incessant tariff increments that burdens customers.

It comes after the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced a 14.75% upward adjustment in electricity tariff and 4.02% in water tariff.

The Commission cited the changes in the cedi rate and inflation for the adjustment but in a statement, the Associations fiercely contested the reasons as flimsy.

“For us, these reasons do not hold water… It is an open secret that there are lots of wastages the management of electricity and water, which every well-meaning Ghanaian will attest to this plain truth.”

It cited an ineffective system of collection of bills from defaulters; illegal connections; ineffective oversight by PURC on the operations and management of the Utility Service providers; and corruption.

According to GUTA, there is a need to deal with these loopholes to maximise revenue.

“If indeed the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission is strict on the management of these utility Service Providers to ensure there is value for money, most of the wastages due to combination of factors, including stealing and stealing related cases could have been halted, saw those revenue to support the Private Sector, especially, our local industries and the agriculture sector to be able to cut down cost of production, produce more at competitive price, help reduce importation, stabilize our economy and take care of our currency depreciation and food inflation.”

“We, therefore appeal to the government to focus much attention on this negative attitude to Public Service, identify all those who steal, divert, misappropriate, misapply and/or loot state funds or property and deal with them decisively to recover all stolen properties of the state.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini