Source: myjoyonline. com - Convention People’s Party (CPP) says the recent increase in utility prices confirms the failure of the NDC Government to transform Ghana’s economy and the lives of the people of Ghana.
The party accused government of manipulating the Public Utility Regulatory Commission in a statement signed by General Secretary, Nii Armah Akomfrah.
The party accused government of manipulating the Public Utility Regulatory Commission in a statement signed by General Secretary, Nii Armah Akomfrah.
The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced a 59% increase in electricity as well as 67% increase in water tariffs which are expected to take effect on Monday, December 14, 2015.
The commission says it considered factors such as Consumer Interest, Investor Interest, Economic Development of the country, the Generation Mix, Fuel mix, Availability of the Service, Growth in Demand, Power Purchase Cost (IPP), Revenue Requirement (to ensure Financial Viability of the Utility Service Providers) and the Cedi-Dollar Exchange Rate.
But the CPP says it is against the increments.
Below is a full statement from the party.
UTILITY PRICE RISES – VICTIMISING THE POOR AND LAW ABIDING WITH IRRESPONSIBLE CONDUCT - CPP
The sanctioned increases in Utility price rises by the Public Utility Regulation Commission (PURC) has come as a shock to Ghanaians, coupled with disappointment and heartbreak at Christmas.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) shares in the disappointment and is alarmed by the NDC government’s manipulation and lampooning of state institutions meant to be independent and to protect the interest of all Ghanaians.
The PURC’s upward adjustment of tariffs on Monday is insensitive to the living conditions of the ordinary Ghanaian and the CPP is strongly against the 59.2 percent and 67.2 percent increases in electricity and water tariffs respectively which comes on the back of a 100% rise on Electricity not very long ago. It betrays the wicked agenda of the Government, an impoverishing agenda and confirms the failure of the NDC Government to transform our economy and the lives of the people of Ghana.
The NDC government and its agencies owe ECG and Ghana Water huge sums which is crippling the effective operations of these companies. The government must honor its debt obligations to these utility providers including GRIDCo and VRA with immediate effect. Ghanaians should not have to pay extra bills to cover government incompetence and failure.
The Government has shown financial irresponsibility in the management of national assets and investments and should accept responsibility for the paralysis of the utility companies due to her non-payment of bills for electricity and water consumption.
The increases amount to government passing on its debts to the public and this is certainly not acceptable in a nation where unaccountability, unemployment and unprecedented hardship burdens the population.
It is unacceptable in a democracy aiming at good governance to repay and victimize poor and law abiding citizens who pay their bills with irresponsible conduct.
In the context of the concession of the ECG, whose interest is the government pursuing?
Should utility payments of the people fill the treasury of a foreign company that will repatriate profits in foreign currency to worsen our trade deficit at the time of austerity and fiscal consolidation?
How does this government expect citizens to celebrate Christmas in darkness and be burdened further with higher utility bills? Who is the NDC government working for? whose interest is an increase in tariffs serving?.
We call on Ghanaians, businesses and firms to reject and refuse payment of any new tariffs until the government pays its debt to ECG, NEDCo, GRIDCo, VRA, and Ghana Water
Many Ghanaian business and industries have collapsed and many are facing collapse, youth unemployment is escalating, and investors are fleeing, relocating to neighboring countries, all because the NDC government cannot keep the lights on.
Fellow citizens, good people of Ghana; you have remained silent for too long. Your tolerance has been misconstrued for too long and Governments for more than two decades have taken you for granted; they have humiliated you, harassed you and exploited you to enrich themselves and their cronies.
The Time is now. The CPP is saying IT’S TIME! ; Its time you rise up and tell this incompetent NDC government enough is enough. It’s time YOU tell them “YENTUA”; WE CAN’T PAY! WON’T PAY!
God Bless Our Homeland Ghana
#CPPGOVTNOW! IT’S TIME!
Signed:
Nii Armah Akomfrah
General Secretary
The commission says it considered factors such as Consumer Interest, Investor Interest, Economic Development of the country, the Generation Mix, Fuel mix, Availability of the Service, Growth in Demand, Power Purchase Cost (IPP), Revenue Requirement (to ensure Financial Viability of the Utility Service Providers) and the Cedi-Dollar Exchange Rate.
But the CPP says it is against the increments.
Below is a full statement from the party.
UTILITY PRICE RISES – VICTIMISING THE POOR AND LAW ABIDING WITH IRRESPONSIBLE CONDUCT - CPP
The sanctioned increases in Utility price rises by the Public Utility Regulation Commission (PURC) has come as a shock to Ghanaians, coupled with disappointment and heartbreak at Christmas.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) shares in the disappointment and is alarmed by the NDC government’s manipulation and lampooning of state institutions meant to be independent and to protect the interest of all Ghanaians.
The PURC’s upward adjustment of tariffs on Monday is insensitive to the living conditions of the ordinary Ghanaian and the CPP is strongly against the 59.2 percent and 67.2 percent increases in electricity and water tariffs respectively which comes on the back of a 100% rise on Electricity not very long ago. It betrays the wicked agenda of the Government, an impoverishing agenda and confirms the failure of the NDC Government to transform our economy and the lives of the people of Ghana.
The NDC government and its agencies owe ECG and Ghana Water huge sums which is crippling the effective operations of these companies. The government must honor its debt obligations to these utility providers including GRIDCo and VRA with immediate effect. Ghanaians should not have to pay extra bills to cover government incompetence and failure.
The Government has shown financial irresponsibility in the management of national assets and investments and should accept responsibility for the paralysis of the utility companies due to her non-payment of bills for electricity and water consumption.
The increases amount to government passing on its debts to the public and this is certainly not acceptable in a nation where unaccountability, unemployment and unprecedented hardship burdens the population.
It is unacceptable in a democracy aiming at good governance to repay and victimize poor and law abiding citizens who pay their bills with irresponsible conduct.
In the context of the concession of the ECG, whose interest is the government pursuing?
Should utility payments of the people fill the treasury of a foreign company that will repatriate profits in foreign currency to worsen our trade deficit at the time of austerity and fiscal consolidation?
How does this government expect citizens to celebrate Christmas in darkness and be burdened further with higher utility bills? Who is the NDC government working for? whose interest is an increase in tariffs serving?.
We call on Ghanaians, businesses and firms to reject and refuse payment of any new tariffs until the government pays its debt to ECG, NEDCo, GRIDCo, VRA, and Ghana Water
Many Ghanaian business and industries have collapsed and many are facing collapse, youth unemployment is escalating, and investors are fleeing, relocating to neighboring countries, all because the NDC government cannot keep the lights on.
Fellow citizens, good people of Ghana; you have remained silent for too long. Your tolerance has been misconstrued for too long and Governments for more than two decades have taken you for granted; they have humiliated you, harassed you and exploited you to enrich themselves and their cronies.
The Time is now. The CPP is saying IT’S TIME! ; Its time you rise up and tell this incompetent NDC government enough is enough. It’s time YOU tell them “YENTUA”; WE CAN’T PAY! WON’T PAY!
God Bless Our Homeland Ghana
#CPPGOVTNOW! IT’S TIME!
Signed:
Nii Armah Akomfrah
General Secretary
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