Gov't Did Not Intefere In PURC's Mandate In Tariff Reduction

Government has dismissed suggestions that its decision to reduce electricity tariff by 25 percent is an attempt to interfere with the mandate of the Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC). Government announced the reduction on Sunday amidst threat of a nationwide strike by organized labor. Several calls for a reduction in the recent tariff increment of 79 percent was rejected by government initially with the excuse that such an exercise will amount to interfering with the constitutional mandate of the PURC. But responding to questions about why government finally decided to reduce the tariffs, a Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the decision is an indication of government�s respects for Ghanaians. Felix Kwakye Ofosu also noted that government is putting measures in place to improve water supply across the country. He added that the vision of the NDC administration to ensure that majority Ghanaians have access to water by 2015 would be a reality.