PNC Against Utility Tariff Increment

The People’s National Convention (PNC) has described the imposition of the over 70 per cent tariff increase as a reflection of the recklessness and insensitivity of the government and its agencies.

Over the years, these utility companies have used the same argument to justify increment, only to perpetuate gross inefficiency in their service delivery.

According to a statement signed by Mr Bernard Mornah, the General Secretary of the party, the recent increase was at best a fraud on Ghanaians.

It said that the untold hardships it would bring to bear on the lives of the average Ghanaian was unimaginable.

It recalled that the government and labour recently agreed on about 10 per cent increase in wages only for the people to be slapped in the face with this 70 per cent plus tariff adjustment.

The statement said: “The market woman whose son in senior high is yet to settle school bills for this term and the farmer in rural Ghana whose child’s fees as a fresh senior high entrant is staring him in the face are very much distraught. Traders and hawkers whose lives have seen little improvement over the past years are being forced to carry an unbearable cross of 70 per cent plus tariff adjustment! Wherein lies the government’s sensitivity and the much touted claim of working for the ordinary Ghanaian?”

“As the people’s party, the PNC is reminding the government of its social contract with the people and to immediately reverse this heartless decision to be effected by its assigns, the PURC and utility service providers.”

“We shall not hesitate to employ all means available to us in protecting the supreme interest and advancing the welfare of the market women, drivers, informal sector workers, the man/woman in the office and the rural poor,” the statement added and concluded that “We shall not watch unconcerned.”

Source: Daily Graphic