The Minority in Parliament has expressed concern about what he describes as “steep and astronomical increases” in services and other related charges with the electricity sector.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, John Abdulai Jinapor, noted that the increments, which amount to about 100 per cent, have been carried out illegally.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, announced its new charges for services.

The power distribution company indicated ¢1,020 for a single-phase meter instead of the existing ¢400.00. Also, new consumers interested in a three-phase meter will pay ¢1,920 instead of the previous ¢700.

But according to him, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) took the decisions in an opaque manner without recourse to any public announcement by the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission. 

“The Minority in Parliament wishes to state in unequivocal terms that we reject entirely these draconian price hikes given the current economic conditions as well as the surreptitious manner with which the exercise has been carried out.

“This unorthodox approach is in complete violation of laid down processes, which require that consumers are notified of such adjustments prior to implementation,” he noted.