Minority opposes further tariff hikes, demands improved ECG performance

The Minority Members on the Energy Committee of Parliament have vowed to oppose any further increases in electricity tariffs unless the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) significantly improves its service delivery.

The Minority contends that despite a recent 14.75% tariff increment, the ECG has failed to address its persistent commercial losses, which have contributed to a staggering GHc67 billion debt owed to power producers.

According to the caucus, this financial mismanagement is a major factor behind ECG’s ongoing underperformance.

The concerns were raised during a meeting between the Parliamentary Energy Committee and key agencies in the power sector. George Kwame Aboagye, the Ranking Member of the Committee, issued a strong call to action, urging the ECG to take immediate steps to enhance its efficiency and accountability.

“We said we would not accept or agree to a new tariff, and we stand by that. We want to see performance first,” he said.

Adding to the concerns, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Naser Toure Mahama, called on ECG to ensure easy and timely access to electricity meters for consumers.

He said that removing the bottlenecks in meter acquisition would not only improve customer satisfaction, but also help increase revenue generation for the company.

“People who are from the waiting list to get a meter to start paying for them. So, if ECG can make sure they can produce meters for the customers, it only means it is going to create more revenue for them.

“They should work hard to ensure that customers are not delayed, so they can also start paying revenue,” he added.