News:
March 11, 2013
Outspoken New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin Central constituency Kennedy Agyapong wants the Corporate Communications Manager at Volta River Authority (VRA), Samuel Kwesi Fletcher, to publicly tell the whole nation whether his (Fletcher’s) salary is ‘realistic’ for pontificating on radio that Ghanaians do not pay realistic electricity tariffs.
Kennedy Agyapong was reacting to Sam Fletcher’s remarks in an interview he granted King Edward on HELLO FM that “for more than 10 years, Ghanaians have never paid the right electricity tariffs, they don’t pay realistic tariffs and it is about time somebody told that truth to everybody.”
According to Mr. Fletcher, considering the volumes of crude oil VRA purchases, a small change in the price of crude oil could result in a huge disparity between income and expenditure, thus the VRA wants major tariff reviews to be carried out every two years and quarterly adjustments made to account for changing crude oil prices, currency fluctuations and other parameters.
But the outspoken Assin Central NPP MP seems unenthused by Mr Fletcher’s comments.
“Mr. Fletcher should take his time because all the questions you (King Edward, host of the show) asked him, he was giving cheeky answers. If he (Fletcher) thinks he can’t do the PR job, he should quit.”
“I want to ask Fletcher that, ‘is his salary realistic?’ He has to tell the whole Ghana. He can’t just use that English word this morning; ‘realistic price’. He was saying that with impunity and arrogance. If he (Fletcher) has ever established a company and paid salaries of workers from his own pocket…he wouldn’t have used that word. What is he talking about?” he asked rather angrily.
Speaking on the same platform, a clearly riled Ken Agyapong impliedly stated that losses incurred in transporting and distributing electricity efficiently should be blamed at the doorstep of the VRA.
“I paid 7,500 Ghana cedis for my cold store in 2009. I am now paying 42,000 Ghana cedis and…, i have to buy fuel 8,000 Ghana cedis….They (VRA) are killing the industry.”
“…in the rural areas, street lights are always on during the day. Even 2 o’clock in the afternoon these lights are on. So must I be the one to pay for those expenses? We have to check all this loopholes. Let me ask Fletcher, has VRA been paid by government the debt it owes? He (Fletcher) should wait if he meets with President Mahama and the Energy Minister, then he should show off his arrogance….,” the NPP MP said.
Peacefmonline.com