A Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah says the recent utility tariff increases is necessary to avert a looming power crises in the country. The Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC) last week announced a 42 per cent increase in electricity and a 33 per cent increase in water tariffs - increases the utility providers said were necessary for them to improve the quality of service. But the announcement has triggered mass protests and opposition with pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) embarking on a demonstration on Wednesday. AFAG insists the increases are needless and will worsen the plight of Ghanaians. But in an interview with Joy News’ Araba Koomsom, the Information Minister said the increases are a bold decision taken by government to prevent the country from a looming national disaster. “When you come into government and you meet a certain situation where the whole transmission and distribution network was severely threatened, that we were going to face a national disaster, total black out because of the long years of lack of serious investment, corruption, you need to confront the issue,” he said. According to him, the utility service providers have been given a benchmark to provide quality services to consumers in order to provide enough justification for the increases. He said government sympathises with the suffering of Ghanaians and pledged it may soon reduce utility prices when the oil is on stream. “We would have wished that tariff did not have to go up but that is a difficult situation we find ourselves and we are appealing with our compatriots to bear with us,” he said Asked if the increment will not affect the suffering masses, the Deputy Minister said there had been a lot of suffering in this country over the last couple of years leading to the ousting of the NPP government. That in mind, government he pledged is implementing pro-poor policies geared towards alleviating the poverty of Ghanaians. He cited increases in capitation grant, school feeding programme and a fairly robust economy, adding the government is on course in solving the major challenges of the country. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana