The Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Shafic Suleman, paid a working visit to the Bono Region on August 19, 2025. The visit was aimed at engaging the Commission's regional staff, interacting with utility service providers on their operations and challenges in the region, and inspecting PURC's pro-poor projects.
In a meeting with the PURC Bono Regional Staff, Dr. Suleman commended their hard work and encouraged them to continue their efforts. The regional staff also briefed the Executive Secretary and his team on their operations, highlighting their achievements and challenges. The meeting was followed by visits to the Bono Regional offices of Ghana Water Limited (GWL) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).
During the engagements with GWL and NEDCo, both utilities made presentations on the nature of their operations, their achievements, and the challenges in their operational activities.
Madam Janet Atebiya, Water Quality Manager of GWL Sunyani, presented on the office's operations, achievements, and challenges. She highlighted the success of paperless bill delivery to consumers as well as measures put in place to help GWL meet consumer demand, such as the Wenchi water project. Key challenges outlined by GWL included the need for a water expansion project, especially in the Sunyani Municipality, to help meet customer demand, and the intrusion of private borehole operators into GWL's operations in the region.
The Human Resource Manager of NEDCo Sunyani, Mr. Peter Ayamba, presented on behalf of the Regional Chief Manager. He highlighted interventions they have implemented for customer satisfaction, including a revamp of the Sunyani customer care center, an extension of operational hours to 10 p.m., the establishment of additional zonal offices at Chiraa, Nsoatre, and Berekum, the construction of new 34.5KV feeders in Sunyani and Mim, and an upgrade of the capacity of existing feeders in Sunyani and Berekum. Mr. Ayamba also outlined challenges faced by NEDCo in the region, including the effect on their revenue of 51% of their customers falling within the lifeline bracket, and the financial loss caused by the infiltration of illegal and substandard meters into the system.
Dr. Shafic Suleman assured the GWL and NEDCo teams of the Commission's commitment to supporting them in resolving their challenges to help improve service delivery to consumers in the Bono Region. He advised them to intensify their customer education and communication efforts. He also assured them of the Commission’s continued collaboration with GWL and NEDCo.
Dr. Suleman’s visit to the Bono Region concluded with a visit to a PURC Pro-Poor water project site at Kato, a community located in the Berekum East district, to inspect the state of the project and how effectively the facility has been used.
Dr. Suleman was accompanied by management and staff of the Commission, including Ing. Emmanuel Fiati (Director, Water Services and Performance Monitoring); Alhaji Jabaru Abukari (Director, Regional Operations & Consumer Services); Ing. Frederick Oblitey (Director, Energy Services and Performance Monitoring); Dr. Eric Obutey (Director, Research & Corporate Affairs); Mr. Stephen Bryan; Mr. Charles Joseph Wellington Biney; Mr. Reginald Osei Assibey; Mr. Godfred Ennin; and Ms. Fauzia Tanko.
