18.08.10 Ghana Politics and Security
Ghana's government to review utility tariffs downward
The government is expected to review Ghana's utility tariffs downward following
the presentation of a report by a technical committee set up to consider
consumer concerns.
The committee's report was presented to Vice President John Dramani Mahama at the Castle, Osu, on 13th June. According to the Daily Graphic newspaper, Mahama was due to formally announce details to the press in the week
beginning 16th August.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission announced sharp rises in utility tariffs in May 2010, in a move strongly
condemned by the Ghana Trades Union Congress and the Association of Ghana Industries. The utility increases included an 89 per cent hike for electricity tariffs and
36 per cent for water. Cocoa purchases in Ghana are approximately six per cent
down on last season,
according to a Reuters report.
Cocoa purchases declared to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCBOD) by private buyers show 611,619 tonnes purchased for the October 2009 to July
2010 season, compared with 651,974 tonnes declared during the same period a
year
ago.
The government blames smuggling for the deficit and COCOBOD said that at least 60,000 tonnes have been taken illegally to Côte d'Ivoire and
Togo, where cocoa attracts a higher price. The government aims to increase
cocoa
production to 1 million tonnes per year by 2012.
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