Ghanaians to enjoy another 3 months of free electricity, water – Finance Minister Announces

Ghanaians will enjoy another three months of free water and electricity to cushion citizens from the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced this on the floor of Parliament today [July 23, 2020] when he was presenting the 2020 Mid-Year Budget Review.

“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 said.

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In April this year, President Akufo-Addo announced three months free electricity for some category of Ghanaians, as well as three months absorption of water bills for all Ghanaians to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Announcing a similar package for Ghanaians, Mr Ofori-Atta said it is mean to ease the burden of the virus that has wreak havoc the world over.

According to the Minister, 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.