The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) says it will petition Parliament Select Committee on Mines and Energy over the increase in utility tariff by the public utilities regulatory commission (PURC).
” For us as a Chamber ,we are not in agreement with them. Though they have done their bit we will move ahead and meet whoever is in charge, and make sure that the price comes at an affordable rate where industries can produce and not lay workers off.”
According to the Chamber, the decision comes on the back of several appeals to the PURC to review the tariffs for large-scale businesses in the face of current economic challenges and the impact on their operations.
In a media engagement, after a meeting with the PURC, which ended inconclusively.
President of the GNCCI, Clement Osei Amoako said it will continue to push for a downward review of utility tariffs for its members.
“We are not satisfied with the price increment, and we think that the government must do something about it especially when the government has a policy that is going to allow industries to grow here. This is not the time that we should expect such price hikes, and so the government must intervene,” He mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of PURC, Dr. Ishmael Ackah says nothing can be done about it for now since the tariffs have already been gazetted to take effect from February 2023.
” This adjustment, the decision has been made and it has been gazetted so for now nothing can be done on the part of PURC. However, there would be other quarterly adjustments. So what we are doing is to establish the protocol for engagement,”
According to him, measures were put in place to protect industries.
He mentioned reversal of structure for SMEs to pay lower than those in residential sector.
