Ghanaians are uneasily waiting for a planned 25% increase in utility tariffs by the Akufo Addo administration in July 2021.
A group called Gallant Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have described the government’s move as the heights of insensitivity from the Akufo-Addo government.
In a statement signed by Richard E A Sarpong, PRO of the group and Father Casford, Convener of the group, they demanded a reversal of any such increments pointing out that Ghanaians are already overburdened by taxes that the government has recently piled on them.
“The government’s decision to increase utility tariffs when already about 10 new taxes have been imposed on the burdened Ghanaians is borne out of wickedness and insensitivity on the part of Nana Akufo Addo. The Gallant Cadres of NDC demand immediate withdrawal of the increment,” the statement said.
PURC has announced it is holding stakeholders’ engagements over a possible increase in electricity and water tariffs from July to solicit inputs into possible upward adjustments in both electricity and water tariffs.
The PURC cites as the reason the rising operational costs of the utility companies.
However, the Gallant Cadres of NDC say whatever would-be increments in utility tariffs are not welcome and that they are ill-timed at a time that the covid-19 pandemic has already made life unbearable for the people.
“It is slavery at this hardships to ask Ghanaians to pay more taxes when the people are not getting water flow through their tap. Already government of Nana Akufo Addo has rebooted Dumsor having played politics with the energy sector,” the group slammed the government.
“Public sector workers salaries have not seen any increment the last two years. Rent has gone up, food prices already skyrocketing. Meanwhile, petroleum products prices have been increased over 56% in the last 3 months.”