By Benjamin Akoto, GNA
Sunyani, (Bono), Jan. 28, GNA – Mr Patrick Antwi, the Bono and Ahafo Regional Manager of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has urged a deepened collaboration between utility service providers and the commission.
He said a strong collaboration between the PURC, the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and Ghana Water Limited (GWL) was necessary for the timely resolution of consumer complaints.
Mr Antwi gave the advice during an engagement with management and key staff of the NEDCo and GWL in Sunyani and lauded the cordial relationship between the PURC and the service providers, hoping that the relationship would be strengthened further in 2026 to service delivery to consumers.
He explained that the engagement sought to review the activities of the PURC and the utility service providers in 2025.
Mr Antwi said in 2025 the PURC worked on the theme: “Building trust through complaint resolution and extensive stakeholder relationship”, saying that it guided the regional office operations.
He commended the service providers, saying in the midst of their pressing challenges, they worked diligently to ensure consumer satisfaction.
“We don’t have a perfect system anyway; however, we believe that within your means, you were able to strive to satisfy the needs of your users,” he stated.
Mr Antwi urged them to intensify consumer-education for utility users to better understand their system which would build and maintain trust.
He said the PURC had been monitoring the implementation of the tariff review since it took effect on January 1, 2026, saying the commission in the region had not received any complaints so far.
“Understandably, some consumers will express their concerns over rising tariffs, but our priority is to ensure that consumers are not shortchanged as the systems are properly calibrated to reflect the approved adjustments,” he stated.
Mr Theophilus Tawiah Collins, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Chief Manager of GWL, said the company rolled out an electronic billing system in 2025 that would be implemented in April this year.
He said the rollout had been largely successful and attributed the success to intensified and extensive public education by the company.
Mr Collins said the only challenge was that a number of customers were yet to provide their contact details, which were required for the successful delivery of bills via email and short messages saying that: “Once our customers provide their contacts, then we are good to go”.
He said the GWL was undertaking further follow-up activities to facilitate the successful implementation of the new billing system.
Mr Eugene Odoi Addo, the Sunyani Area Manager of NEDCo, explained that the company intended to enhance its customer service initiatives in 2016, saying that NEDCO had scheduled and commenced mass revenue mobilisation exercises for the year.
He pledged the company’s dedication to improve service delivery and deepened its engagement with customers in 2026.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Linda Asante Agyei