The Water Company of Ghana is asking the general public to pay more for the resource because of the increase in the cost of production.

The company, among other things, is insisting the high cost of energy as well as the pollution of its major raw material, rivers, by miscreants across the country have only increased the cost of producing the commodity.

On Joy FM's Ghana Connect programme Friday, an official from the Ghana Water Company Mr Michael Agyemang rallied Ghanaians to pay more for the commodity also because the cedi has depreciated against the dollar which means the company has to pay more for imported materials to treat the water.

"The price at which Ghana water sells water now is in fact inadequate. Currently cost of chemicals on the international market is going up and up. We have pollution of all our raw water sources. We all know what is happening in Ghana now. A huge water basin and people divert the water course because they want money; they want gold and what they do is that they spoil the water and  it gets to a point you are unable to treat the water and if you have to treat it you have to spend huge cost to import chemicals and raises our cost of production. Energy cost we all know what it is now. Ghana water currently  is the highest consumer of energy and we have to spend so much on energy to be able to produce water for our customers. We spend 49 per cent of our total revenue on energy alone..." he argued but the panel on Ghana Connect is not convinced.

A sachet water producer Kingsley who was on the show said the arguments by the company are anything but convincing. He said the quality of water produced is even suspect for which reason the company cannot ask for a raise in the prices.

Debbie a fashion designer does not understand why a consumer would have to be taxed more for water if the state fails to police water resources.  She would rather the Water company of Ghana collaborate with the security services to protect water resources rather than passing on the cost of protecting the water resources to consumers.

The case of ECG

A representative from the Electricity Company of Ghana, the General Manager in charge of Regulatory and Governmental Affairs Mr Baiden says the shift in generation mix from hydro to thermal has led to the increase in cost of production.

He said the Akosombo hydro used to produce 60 per cent of the generation mix at a lower cost but that has reduced to 30, which means thermal is now producing that 30 per cent deficit at a higher cost.

"We can no longer depend on Akosombo being a very cheap source of electricity, he said adding, "we are adding about 400,000 customers every year to the network. This goes to weaken our ability to supply to all," he said.

He pointed out that more transformers need to be injected into the system and low voltage issues must be addressed.

But the panel was not impressed either. One of them named only as Kojo does not see how an increase in customer base for ECG should become a disincentive for which reason existing customers must be askedto pay more for the resource.

An overwhelming majority of  listeners of Ghana Connect programme were unimpressed with the reasons provided for the proposed increases and kicked against it.

Out of 136 people who took part in a poll, 91 of them, representing 66.91 per cent said they will not pay for the new hikes in electricity. Nine of them said they will pay more with 36 of them caring less about whatever is done.

Listeners did not appear to be interested in water pricing. Only one person took part in that poll and that person was not ready to pay more for water.

Meanwhile, the Public Utility Regulatory Commission says it is yet to take a position on whether or not to accept the proposed hikes in utilities.

Nana Yaa Jantuah who speaks for the Commission said they are currently on a nationwide consultation with stakeholders after which the commission will meet with utility providers and a decision will be taken.