Customers of the various utilities in the Western Region have asked the service providers to improve on service delivery, and address challenges before proposing increased tariffs.
This comes on the back of the proposed tariff increase by utilities service providers for this year.
The utilities service providers include the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) among others.
The consumers made the call at the public hearing for the multi-year major tariff review (2022-2027), organised by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) in Takoradi.
Mr. Thomas Cudjoe, a lecturer of the Takoradi Technical University was worried about the shortage of water for almost six months in the airport ridge residential area but suggested a 10 percent upward adjustment.
For his part, Mr. Thomas Evans Adjei, Regional Chairman of the Ghana Electrical contractors Association called on PURC to engage the citizens from time to time to appreciate their concerns and understand the realities on the ground.
Madam Naana Barton-Oduro, Assembly member for the Railway Port electoral area in Takoradi bemoaned the fact that residents pay for services without the commiserate benefits.
The Executive Secretary to the PURC, Dr. Ishmael Ackah said the overall objective of the engagement was to ensure that consumers were given the best of services.
Mr. Ishmael Edjekumhene, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the PURC acknowledged the need for improvement in service delivery and revealed that by close of June this year some concrete measures would be taken on that.
Mr. Seth Eric Atiepa, a Director of the Ghana Water Company limited assured that some construction works and projects to boost production would be done.
Nana Kobena Nketsia V, the Paramount Chief of Essikado who chaired the programme said water continued to be an essential commodity that must be safeguarded by all.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi