The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr. Shafic Suleman, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the utility sector to address challenges and drive sustainable national development.

Speaking in Techiman on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, as part of his nationwide tour of PURC’s regional offices and utility service providers, Dr. Suleman emphasised that cordial working relationships among stakeholders are vital for proactive problem-solving and effective regulation.

The tour, which concluded in Techiman, was aimed at enhancing collaboration, identifying operational challenges, and developing practical solutions to strengthen the efficiency of Ghana’s utility sector.

Dr. Suleman urged staff of the PURC Bono East Regional Office to uphold professionalism and teamwork, stressing that their conduct reflects the image of the Commission.

At the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), Techiman Area Office, management assured the PURC of their commitment to providing consumers with reliable electricity.

Area Manager, Mr. John Mumuni Tayari, revealed that NEDCo had undertaken injections and line upgrades to improve supply.

He welcomed the existing collaboration with PURC and pledged to sustain it.

Mr. Tayari, however, highlighted ongoing challenges, including the influx of illegal meters, Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP) meters, and capacity constraints, which he said the company was working to resolve.

In response, Dr. Suleman thanked the NEDCo team for their dedication and encouraged effective collaborations in finding proactive solutions to sector-wide challenges.

The Executive Secretary’s working tour concluded with a visit to a pro-poor water project site at Bibiani in the Nkoranza South Municipality, where he inspected a completed mechanised borehole system ready for handover to the beneficiary community.

The visit also included deliberations on technical and policy issues, with Dr. Suleman urging service providers to not only identify challenges but also propose practical, forward-looking solutions to strengthen the utility sector.