Kumasi, June 5, GNA - The Ghana Timber Millers Association (GTMO) has joined the chorus of opposition to the recent utility tariff increase, describing it as a "killer punch" that would collapse the ailing timber industry.

A release signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr E.E.K. Acquah-Moses in Kumasi, said with the export of timber products currently plummeting to very low levels both in price and quantity, the tariff adjustments would deal a devastating blow to the industry and push them out of business. "We are disappointed that at a time when production costs are already high and the timber industry is struggling to survive, the situation is being aggravated by these astronomic water and electricity charges". The GTMO said; "it is certain that the new tariff would impact negatively on the cost of production since our production lines depend heavily on water and electricity".

It called on the government to quickly intervene by engaging the utility companies, the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the business community to work out a mutually acceptable deal. The release pleaded with the Mills Administration not to reward the utility companies for their inefficiencies. The GTMO said the justification that the increases would come with improved services could not be taken seriously given the fact that the same excuse was used in the year 2003 but the poor services and inefficiencies continued. 5 June 10