Residents of the Northern Region capital Tamale have become the latest to oppose a push for major tariff hikes by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company.

Consumers in the Eastern and Ashanti regions have also rejected the proposals demanding the utility companies fix their inefficiencies and improve their service before demanding more money.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the utility companies are on a nationwide tour to get consumers’ support for a 100 percent tariff increase, but the process seem an uphill task.

Residents in Tamale said the erratic power supply makes it difficult to come to terms with the tariff hikes.

“I am an investor, I have a shop and this dumsor is affecting the business very much. This tariff increment, they say it is small but they are not assuring the people of constant power how do they think the people will manage the business”, said a participant at the Tamale forum.

PURC Director of Public Affairs, Nana Yaa Gyantuah, says despite the opposition, the public fora are mandatory, insisting that her outfit, together with the utility companies will continue to seek the views of Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, ISODEC has pointed out that the push for tariff increases is to prepare ECG in particular for privatisation.