Chief of Staff Frema Osei-Opare has said all the stakeholders must make their voices heard in the process of announcing new utility tariffs by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
“It is my fervent hope that all stakeholders will engage actively in this review process and make their voices heard so that the final outcome will benefit the generality of all stakeholders,” she at the inauguration of an office complex for the PURC in Koforidua.
The Head of Public Relations and External Affairs of the PURC said the Commission will also consider the interest of the investor community and the interest of the utility companies before announcing the new tariffs.
The PURC had earlier noted that this year’s approved tariffs for utility service providers will be announced on July 1, 2022.
According to the PURC, the tariffs could be increased or decreased.
Dr Eric Kofi Obutey, the Director of Research at PURC made this known on Accra 100.5 FM’s evening news on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
He said, for now, the Commission is engaging all the stakeholders to arrive at tariffs that will serve the need of Ghanaians as well as the service providers.
Dr Obutey mentioned some of the stakeholders as the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy; Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), and Ghana Employers Association among others.
He explained that the stakeholder engagement before the announcement of the approved tariffs is mandated by law.
Dr Obutey was hopeful that all the engagements will end by June for a decision to be taken by July.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company Limited have proposed 148 per cent and 334 per cent hikes, respectively, in tariffs.