Stop petroleum price increases – AFAG

The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has expressed disappointment at utility companies for their inability to provide quality services to Ghanaians despite the upward revision of their rates.

In a statement issued in Accra, it noted that “the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company (GWC) have not shown much care in relation to the needs of their customers. This is worrying especially when one considers the level of increment they sought with the pretext of providing quality services.

It said such a situation, coupled with the high cost of living in the country, had made life unbearable for the ordinary Ghanaian.

“It makes no sense for ECG and GWC to ask the already struggling Ghanaians to pay more tariffs only to be served with worse services. It is worth recalling that the ECG, a few months ago, said they needed to increase tariffs so as to help them upgrade their equipment and replace obsolete ones so that they can deliver improved services.”

It stated that the proposed increment was accepted by Ghanaians because of the promise of better and reliable services.

“But as it is evident now, these services get worse every passing day.

“We are not happy with the poor treatment meted out to Ghanaians who have to pay so much for these poor services because of the monopoly enjoyed by the ECG and GWC. ECG and GWC have taken undue advantage of consumers for far too long. Ghanaians would, however, not tolerate any further tariff increment until they enjoy better supply of services and get value for money.”

It therefore called on government to immediately stop any further increment in tariffs.

It also called on PURC to abort the automatic price adjustment until the government fixes the economy.

“We can no longer entertain any form of disrespect from the service providers.

“Furthermore, AFAG would also ask the government not to adjust petrol prices anymore since the price of crude is falling on the international market. We urge the government to salvage the situation because the taxpayers are tired. With oil prices falling on the international market, AFAG expects fuel prices to reflect accordingly.”