Some members of the public have strongly opposed moves by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company to increase tariffs for consumers across the country.

At a Greater Accra public hearing organised by the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC), participants accused the utility firms of negligence in addressing leakages and illegal connections, which they say cause huge financial losses.

Most of the speakers who engaged with Joy Business rejected the proposal and called for a thorough audit of the companies’ operations.

“Look, I think the ECG and water company are unfair to us. Just look at the kind of service they are providing. Even when we have a fault and call on them, the response is poor.

"We won’t accept any increment. It’s too much. They must rather find innovative solutions to resolve the many leakages and illegal connections in the system,” said Hannah Paintsil, a beautician.

An Assembly Member in the Greater Accra Metropolis, Emmanuel Darko Lamptey, also called for urgent attention to system losses.

“As for me, I think the utility companies are being complacent with their work. In my area in Accra, there are a lot of illegal connections which we have reported severally, but nobody seems to care.

"You cannot come back to those of us paying bills to increase tariffs when others are enjoying for free. It cannot work that way,” he stressed.

The public hearing forms part of the PURC’s processes before approving any price adjustments.

Defending its proposal, General Manager of Financial Planning at ECG, Moses Okley, said financing key projects for the year will be difficult without approval of the proposed increment. He also requested the PURC to approve a new tariff line for public lighting.

The PURC, however, assured that it will scrutinise all proposals thoroughly after engaging with the public.