Mr. Emmanuel Wullingdool, a consultant to the Upper West Regional branch of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GNCCI), said the proposed increment in the water and electricity tariffs will adversely impact businesses.
Two major utility service providers in the country, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), last month, proposed an increase in tariffs.
The GWCL proposed a 334% increase in tariff while the ECG proposed a 148% increase in tariff.
The increment, according to the utility giants, was to augment for the deficit in the cost of producing water and electricity respectively.
However, the business community has since the announcement indicated their displeasure in the proposed increment and has expressed their fear of a possible increment in the cost of production as lifeline consumers also predict an eventual increase in cost of living.
However, Mr Wullingdool, in an interview with Info Radio in Wa, said the tariff increment will lead to increase in cost of production and resultant increase in cost of the products.
He said no business operator in the region will be happy about the proposed increment and said the GNCCI at the regional level sees that as blow to the business community.
He advised business men and women within the region to opt for alternative sources of energy if the proposed increment is passed as it will have a negative impact on businesses.
The Institute of Energy Security (IES) had also described as unrealistic the demands in tariff increment by the utility companies.
Even though the think tank agreed that the cost of production has gone up over the years, it insisted that the increments sought are on the high side.
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