PURC boss pledges improved utility services on courtesy visit to Ashanti Regional Minister
The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr Shafic Suleman, last week paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, as part of his official working tour of the region.
The meeting aimed to strengthen institutional collaboration and address critical challenges in water and electricity service delivery.
Dr Suleman expressed gratitude for the warm reception and congratulated the Minister on his appointment.
He highlighted PURC’s commitment to proactive stakeholder engagement, identifying service bottlenecks, and implementing solutions. A key initiative includes the launch of a virtual stakeholder platform for real-time resolution of customer concerns.
“Our approach emphasises stakeholder management to enhance utility services and consumer satisfaction,” Dr Suleman said.
Dr Amoakohene welcomed the initiative and pledged full support for PURC’s activities in the region.
Concerns
He raised concerns over poor communication from utility providers during outages, high tariffs, expensive prepaid meters, and limited access to potable water in rural areas.
He urged the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and other providers to adopt more transparent and responsive communication strategies.
The Minister endorsed Dr Suleman’s proposal for a dedicated WhatsApp platform to facilitate real-time problem-solving among key stakeholders.
He reiterated his office’s openness to continuous engagement, stressing that transparency and public involvement would reduce consumer dissatisfaction.
Dr Suleman assured that the concerns raised would inform PURC’s regional strategy, emphasising Ashanti’s priority status for the Commission.
Delegation
Dr Suleman was accompanied by Alhaji Jabaru Abukari (Director, Regional Operations and Consumer Services), Dr Eric Obutey (Director, Research and Corporate Affairs), Leon Acquaye (Deputy Director, Southern Zone), Dr Robert Tia Abdulai Aziz (Head of Corporate Affairs), Peter Agbemefor (Assistant Finance Manager), and Godfred Ennin (Secretary to the Executive Secretary).
The Ashanti PURC team, led by Regional Manager Edward Boduah, also attended to support the Executive Secretary’s regional tour.
