The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr. Shafic Suleman, has commended the Volta Regional Office for its high level of productivity, commitment, and dedication to the delivery of the Commission’s mandate.
Dr. Suleman made the commendation on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during an engagement with staff of the Volta Regional Office as part of his working visit to the Region. The engagement provided an opportunity for the Executive Secretary and staff to review the performance of the Regional Office, discuss operational challenges, and identify measures to further improve service delivery.
The Regional Office presented a report covering the activities and achievements of the Office from January to August 2026. The presentation highlighted key areas of the Commission’s work, including complaints management and resolution, public education and sensitisation, monitoring activities, pro-poor projects, stakeholder engagement, public relations and other initiatives undertaken by the Regional Office.
Following the presentation, Dr. Suleman applauded the staff for their dedication and productivity. He noted that, based on his observations from engagements with other Regional Offices, the Volta Regional Office had demonstrated a comparatively strong level of performance. He encouraged the team to sustain momentum and continue working collectively to ensure that the Commission’s regulatory mandate is effectively achieved.
Dr. Suleman further highlighted the strong relationship between public education and complaints management, stressing that effective consumer education is essential to ensuring that utility consumers understand their rights and know where and how to seek redress. He expressed concern about the relatively low number of complaints recorded by some Regional Offices and explained that low complaint volumes should not necessarily be interpreted as an absence of challenges among consumers.
According to him, effective public education and sensitisation create greater awareness among consumers and empower them to report concerns when their rights are infringed upon or when they encounter challenges with utility service providers. He therefore urged Regional Offices to intensify public education programmes and strengthen engagement with consumers to ensure that the Commission remains accessible to the people it serves
Dr. Shafic Suleman, subsequently with officials of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), visited the Kpeve Water Treatment Plant to assess concerns regarding ongoing construction activities near the Ghana Water intake.
The visit followed earlier engagements concerning the construction of a resort facility near the water intake. During the visit, the team observed that construction activities were ongoing in the area. Dr. Suleman clarified that PURC was not opposed to the development but stressed the need for the contractor to respect the designated buffer zone of Ghana Water Limited.
He emphasised that protecting the water intake was critical to safeguarding the quality and sustainability of the water source. The concern is particularly significant as previous construction activities in the area had contributed to increased turbidity levels at the intake, resulting in the temporary shutdown of the treatment plant by GWL.
The Kpeve Water Treatment Plant supplies potable water to consumers in parts of the Ho Municipality, Kpeve and Peki areas. Any disruption to its operations could therefore have implications for water supply to communities within its catchment area.
Dr. Suleman called for continued collaboration among PURC, Ghana Water Limited, the contractor and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that development activities do not compromise critical water infrastructure or the sustainability of the water source.
He assured stakeholders that PURC would continue to work with GWL and other relevant institutions to address emerging challenges and protect the interests of consumers. He also stressed the importance of striking the right balance between development and the protection of critical public utility infrastructure.
The visit formed part of PURC’s broader commitment to consumer protection, effective regulation and improved utility service delivery. It also underscored the Commission’s commitment to working with utility providers and other stakeholders to address emerging challenges and ensure the continued availability and sustainability of essential public utility services.
