Some business owners in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of the Western Region are lamenting that even though they have the option of passing on the extra cost of operations brought about by increases in tariffs, they fear this will lead to high pricing which could scare off customers.
Their other fear is being compelled to lay off workers due to increase in cost of operations.
Thomas Asare Obeng operates a block factory. He employs six workers and spends about five hundred cedis a month on electricity.
Mr. Obeng Asare heard the news of the increase in tariffs, for the first time, from the news team and he is gutted.
“Already there are rumours that the cost of cement will go up. And once that happens, everything will change,” he cried.
He explains the repercussions of the new increases in tariffs on his business will be dire.
“Currently, I sell 6 inches block for 6 cedis 20 pesewas. Imagine if prices of cement go up and you add the new tariff increase, I have to sell one at maybe 7 cedis. Already, people are complaining. So things will change,” he added.
For Ato Kwamina Nunoo, a billboard and sign writer, even before today’s announcement some of his customers have been complaining that his rates are high.
He fears the recent announcement could worsen the unemployment situation in the country.
“Our suppliers will certainly also increase their prices. We have to do same. And once that happens, the rate goes up. This will easily scare off our customers. Already, we hardly get work to do. The only thing we have to do is to lay off workers and that’s going to be a hard pill to swallow. So we are pleading with government to intervene,” he pleaded.
Onuaonline decided to move to the streets to find out what other consumers make of the announcement and for close to ten minutes, we were unsuccessful in getting a reaction.
All attempts were met with rejections as according to the people we had wanted to interview, they are fed up with the government and resigned to whatever it decides.
But some taxi drivers could not hold onto their frustrations.
“We vote for government to solve problems and not to create problems. The suffering is too much. Things are becoming unbearable. You simply don’t even know what to say or do again. Now, we cannot even look up to government to change anything because it appears government is the problem,” they lamented.
By Eric Yaw Adjei|ConnectFM|Onuaonline.com
