The Ghana Union of Traders’ Associations (GUTA) has expressed concern over the recent increases in utility tariffs. They argue that the key economic indicators used to justify this decision have actually improved and should have led to a reduction in tariffs instead.
In an interview on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, GUTA Vice President Joseph Paddy stated that traders were taken aback by the announcement and were not consulted prior to the decision. “We went to bed one night and woke up the next morning to find out that there would be an increase in tariffs, and we wondered why, especially since we were not engaged in the discussion,” he said.
Mr. Paddy emphasized the importance of meaningful stakeholder consultation before implementing decisions that impact businesses and consumers. “For good governance, it is crucial to engage stakeholders and encourage participation. If you are planning to increase tariffs, you need to involve those affected,” he asserted.
He also questioned the justification for the tariff increase, stating that the reasons provided by the regulators did not support it.
