The Young Patriots of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have threatened to drag the Volta River Authority to court should government heed their call to increase tariffs on electricity in order to help the company adequately purchase crude oil to resolve the erratic power supply to the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Young Patriots, Hopeson Adorye, a member of the NPP�s Communication team expressed disappointment in the services provided by the utility companies and so, warned them against any tariff increase.
He explained that the Public Utility and Regulatory Commission (PURC) signed a performance contract with the utility providers; ECG, VRA and GRIDCO to improve upon their work in the supply of electricity to consumers in the country but expressed dissatisfaction with the services rendered by the utility companies.
The group last Thursday, March 7 expressed their sentiments in a statement calling on �ECG, VRA and PURC to with immediate effect ensure all government agencies, ministries and MDA�s have prepaid meters installed before any negotiations on tariffs begins. Failure to do so, we will seriously consider bringing a class action suit against the PURC and ECG among others on behalf of all Ghanaians.�
They group further disclosed the indebtedness of the utility companies and appealed to them to find solutions to remit their costs.
�It has been confirmed by ECG, VRA and TOR that the government owes them $500m and $400m and $300m respectively.
�The people of the Republic of Ghana cannot continue to subsidize the incompetence, inefficiencies, and the lack of moral uprightness of our government. Bloated government Ministries, District assemblies and state agencies providing jobs for the boys who fleece the State of our scarce resources is very insensitive to the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian,� Portions of the statement read.
Reacting to the demands made by the Volta River Authority to increase electricity tariffs by 20%, Hopeson Adorye also revealed in an interview with Peacefmonline.com that the Young Patriots will take the matter to the law court.
�In fact, we are searching for the performance contract. Once we get it, we will place an injunction on them and aside that, we are planning a very massive demonstration �.we therefore hope our brothers in the NDC will join us. We will demonstrate. Apart from the demonstration, we will use all legal means like proceeding to court and make sure we put them on their toes to do what is right for the people of Ghana.
�Why should Ghanaians suffer from someone�s incompetence and ineffectiveness? As we are aware, government is owing ECG; 500 million dollars. It�s owing VRA 400 million dollars and then TOR, 300 million dollars. All together is 1.2 billion dollars and this one can add about 400 to 500 megawatts to our national grid. So, why should we, the ordinary Ghanaians as poor as we are, continue to suffer these consequences?� he exclaimed.
According to him, VRA�s intent is to �rob� Ghanaians but not to rectify the inconsistencies in its financial purse aimed at purchasing large quantities of crude oil to ward off the unremitting power fluctuations.
He accused the Mahama-led government of squandering the monies it owes the Volta River Authority on campaign platforms, therefore charging the electricity generation company to recoup its losses from the government.
The Young Patriots� �Dum so Hardship� demonstration will be held in the Northern Region on April 9 this year in hope that the electricity tariffs do not hike up.
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