In a bid to reduce the burden of the coronavirus on the citizenry, the government says Ghanaians will enjoy another three months of free electricity and water supply.
This was announced by the Finance Minister during his presentation of the mid-year budget review earlier today. This according to the Minister is because the government prioritizes the concerns of the Ghanaian people.
“That is also why we further reduced electricity prices by half and completely provided potable water for free for everybody since March this year. And we will extend it for another three months,” he told Parliament, Thursday, 23rd July 2020.
During the lockdown period, the President announced three months of free electricity supply to consumers depending on their rate of consumption, to make up for lost income brought about by the imposed restrictions. In another address, the President announced the Government’s decision to absorb water bills as a result of complaints from some Ghanaians on the lack of potable water in their various communities due to the lockdown.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said the decision is part of additional measures being taken by the Government to mitigate the impact the outbreak of the virus is having on the public.
Announcing yet another package for the citizenry, Mr Ofori-Atta said it is to ease the burden of the virus that has wreaked havoc the world over.
According to the Minister, the second package of the free water initiative would be for all water consumers while the electricity supply would be limited to only lifeline consumers.
“It takes a caring government of the people, and with that, I mean, a Government of all the people, to offer cost-free water to all across the country: representing all domestic and commercial customers in Ghana for three months.
“It takes a caring government to be for the people and for business, large and small, to choose to subsidise electricity consumption by 50 per cent to 4,086,286 households and 686,522 businesses at a cost of ¢1.02 billion in three months. And we will extend the coverage for lifeline customers for another three months,” he said.
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I’m Deborah Aba Narkoah. I’m an avid reader, writer and public speaker.
