The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has questioned the justifications for the recent upward adjustment in water and electricity tariffs stressing that the increment will further reduce the purchasing power of consumers.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) on Saturday, September 28, announced a 3.02% increase in electricity tariffs and a 1.86% rise in water tariffs for the third quarter of 2024, effective October 1, citing exchange rate fluctuations, inflation and gas prices as reasons for the upward adjustment.

Public Relations Officer for GUTA, Joseph Paddy, bemoaned that the increase will worsen the standards of living of Ghanaians.

“The new tariff is not justifiable. That [the new tariff] is a result of increasing gas prices and also interest rates and exchange rates going up. Who caused the exchange rate to go up? And that is what the fiscal committee has been complaining about, the instability in the system.

“So they should come again otherwise, it is going to make the cost of living in the country extremely difficult for Ghanaians and very high.

“Already, Ghanaians are complaining that the cost of living is extremely high in the country. And then coupled with that, we are bringing this increase at this critical moment. Even the timing is also a challenge.”