‘I Will Not Approve Anything ECG Brings’ – Energy Committee Chairman

Chairman of Parliament’s Energy Committee, Emmanuel Bedzrah, has vowed never to support any proposal from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), declaring his total opposition to the utility provider’s latest tariff demands.

“As the Chairman of the Energy Committee, I will not approve of anything that ECG will bring to us,” Mr. Bedzrah stated on PM Express on September 9.

His comments follow ECG’s request to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for a 225% increase in its Distribution Service Charge. The company argues that the sharp adjustment is needed to avert financial collapse and sustain power supply.

But Mr. Bedzrah insists Parliament is united against the proposal. “On my committee’s WhatsApp platform, it was a bipartisan bashing of ECG. Nobody will come to us with this,” he stressed.

He pointed out that ECG had already angered MPs with a recent 17% tariff increase pushed through without adequate consultation. “How can you increase the ECG tariff to 225%?” he asked.

The Energy Committee Chairman also admitted that his stance has hardened since assuming his current role. “When I was ranking member for Works and Housing, I once told PURC I would even approve 300% for them. But sitting here now as Chairman of the Energy Committee… I will not approve anything that ECG will bring to us.”

The remarks come as PURC continues stakeholder consultations on tariff proposals, including one from the Ghana Water Company Limited, which is seeking a 280% hike due to rising costs from pollution and illegal mining.