By Dorothy Frances Ward
Kumasi, Aug. 3, GNA – The Ashanti Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has undertaken a community engagement exercise in 10 selected communities across the region to assess the quality of services provided by utility companies.
The exercise sought to obtain first-hand information from consumers on services rendered by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Limited (GWL).
It was aimed at determining consumers’ level of satisfaction with utility service delivery and ensuring that consumers received quality services with minimal interruptions.
Mr Edward Boduah, Ashanti Regional Manager of PURC, speaking to journalists during one of the engagements, said the exercise provided the Commission with the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of service delivery challenges affecting households and businesses.
The communities visited included Nkawie, Esereso Adagya, IPT, Afrancho Krobo, Bremang UGC, Afrancho Bronkong and Kwadaso Estate, among others.
Mr Boduah explained that the selected areas were prioritised because of persistent complaints from consumers regarding irregular electricity and water supply.
During the engagement, consumers were interviewed on key service delivery issues, including reliability of supply, issuance and delivery of monthly bills, available payment options, and the responsiveness and attitude of utility staff in handling complaints.
The Commission also used the opportunity to educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities under the regulations governing the electricity and water sectors.
PURC distributed contact leaflets containing its hotline numbers and office details to facilitate future engagements and enable consumers to easily report complaints and make enquiries.
Mr Boduah said complaints received during the exercise had been documented for investigation and resolution.
He noted that the engagement had helped identify major service delivery challenges affecting consumers in the selected communities.
These included intermittent power outages, low voltage, irregular billing, and inadequate communication regarding planned outages and revenue mobilisation activities.
Mr Boduah said PURC would engage directly with ECG and GWL to address the identified challenges, ease the burden on consumers in the affected communities, and improve overall service delivery.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that utility service providers complied with regulatory standards and treated consumers fairly, while also educating consumers on the efficient use of utilities and the importance of timely bill payment.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Dorothy Frances Ward
[email protected]