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Central University Lecturer, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has slammed the utility companies for demanding an increment in utilities in order to render quality service to Ghanaians.

Four power utility companies are demanding huge increases in power tariffs due to what they say are a rising inflation and declining foreign exchange rates over a three-year period.

They claim these economic indicators have significantly affected their operations.

The operators are the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Company (NEDCo).

While the ECG is proposing a 148 percent increase, GRIDCo demands a 48 percent increase and VRA  is also proposing 37 percent.

These companies at a stakeholder consultative meeting organized by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in Accra on Wednesday, May 12, 2022 insisted that the proposed percentages will allow for investments to be made into the improvement and expansion of projects and help them to be more efficient as well as deliver enhanced service delivery.

Reacting to the demands by the players, particularly the ECG which demands 148 increment in prices, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah called on the PURC to intervene on behalf of Ghanaians.

Dr. Otchere-Ankrah found it extremely ridiculous that ECG would be seeking such astronomical increment following their inconsistent service delivery to consumers coupled with other challenges facing consumers.

He questioned the logic in increasing electricity tariffs by 148% vis-à-vis the high cost of living of Ghanaians and economic pressures on them.

Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah complained bitterly about these proposed tariff increments stating, "I don't believe they, in their right frame, will say a Ghanaian or Ghanaian institutions should pay or they have the capacity to pay an increment of 148 percent. It's difficult. They should improve their services".

He added; "Many times, they come seeking increments in the name of improving their services but after receiving the money, do they indeed fulfil their promise?...The promises they have given us over the years about they will improve, well, whether they've improved or not; the Ghanaian is there to judge but we must be careful."

He admonished PURC to review the ECG proposal to relieve consumers, stressing "an ordinary Ghanaian will not be happy even seeing this as a proposal".