The
Young Patriots of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have threatened to drag the
Volta River Authority to court should government heed their call to increase
tariffs on electricity in order to help the company adequately purchase crude
oil to resolve the erratic power supply to the country.
Speaking
on behalf of the Young Patriots, Hopeson Adorye, a member of the NPP’s
Communication team expressed disappointment in the services provided by the
utility companies and so, warned them against any tariff increase.
He
explained that the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC) signed a
performance contract with the utility providers; ECG, VRA and GRIDCO to improve
upon their work in the supply of electricity to consumers in the country but
expressed dissatisfaction with the services rendered by the utility companies.
The
group last Thursday, March 7 expressed their sentiments in a statement calling
on “ECG, VRA and PURC to with immediate effect ensure all government agencies,
ministries and MDA’s have prepaid meters installed before any negotiations on
tariffs begins. Failure to do so, we will seriously consider bringing a class
action suit against the PURC and ECG among others on behalf of all Ghanaians.”
They
group further disclosed the indebtedness of the utility companies and appealed
to them to find solutions to remit their costs.
“It
has been confirmed by ECG, VRA and TOR that the government owes them $500m and
$400m and $300m respectively.
“The
people of the Republic
of Ghana cannot continue
to subsidize the incompetence, inefficiencies, and the lack of moral
uprightness of our government. Bloated government Ministries, District
assemblies and state agencies providing jobs for the boys who fleece the State
of our scarce resources is very insensitive to the plight of the ordinary
Ghanaian,” Portions of the statement read.
Reacting
to the demands made by the Volta River Authority to increase electricity
tariffs by 20%, Hopeson Adorye also revealed in an interview with
Peacefmonline.com that the Young Patriots will take the matter to the law
court.
“In
fact, we are searching for the performance contract. Once we get it, we will
place an injunction on them and aside that, we are planning a very massive
demonstration ….we therefore hope our brothers in the NDC will join us. We will
demonstrate. Apart from the demonstration, we will use all legal means like
proceeding to court and make sure we put them on their toes to do what is right
for the people of Ghana.
“Why
should Ghanaians suffer from someone’s incompetence and ineffectiveness? As we
are aware, government is owing ECG; 500 million dollars. It’s owing VRA 400
million dollars and then TOR, 300 million dollars. All together is 1.2 billion
dollars and this one can add about 400 to 500 megawatts to our national grid.
So, why should we, the ordinary Ghanaians as poor as we are, continue to suffer
these consequences?” he exclaimed.
According
to him, VRA’s intent is to “rob” Ghanaians but not to rectify the
inconsistencies in its financial purse aimed at purchasing large quantities of
crude oil to ward off the unremitting power fluctuations.
He
accused the Mahama-led government of squandering the monies it owes the Volta
River Authority on campaign platforms, therefore charging the electricity
generation company to recoup its losses from the government.
The
Young Patriots’ “Dum so Hardship” demonstration will be held in the Northern
Region on April 9 this year in hope that the electricity tariffs do not hike
up.
Source:
Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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