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Provide quality and reliable services to customers… E/R PURC boss to ECG, GWCL
The Eastern Regional Manager of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Mr Jude Aduamoah-Addo has called on Utility Providers, especially Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to ensure provision of quality s reliable services to customers.
According to him, the provision of quality and reliable services was still an issue and a major part of complaints made by customers to the Commission.
“The PURC in the Eastern region in fulfilling the Commission’s mandates of receiving, investigating, and settling disputes between customers and utility services has for the first quarter of 2023 received 324 complaints against the ECG GWCL and these were complaints are about quality of service and reliability issues,” he said.
Mr Aduamoah-Addo who made this known during a briefing with the media to explain it activities done in the first quarter of this year, indicated that out of the 324 complaints made, 311 has been resolved by the PURC.
He indicated that even though some complaints directed to the PURC about quality of service and reliability have been resolved, a lot of customers were still dissatisfied with the services rendered by the utility companies, revealing that out of the 324 complaints received, 271 was on quality of service.
“Issues have to do with no flow of water, cable and transformer issues, low voltages, phase-off, power fluctuations and many others came up strongly any time they complained on our several social media platforms and walk-ins,” he said adding that with the issue of power outages, small companies complained of no announcements before power goes off and that was affecting their work negatively.
He stated that these complaints should be critically looked at, and urged the utility companies to find other strategies to ensure that obstacles that prevented them from delivering such quality of services and regular supply to customers were solved.
Speaking on the issue of Billing Adjustmen Mr Aduamoah-Addo revealed that for the first quarter this year, PURC received disputed bills amounts of GHc27, 916.71 against the ECG, and revealed that it took the intervention of the Commission, to push ECG to pass an adjustment of Ghc27, 268.07, leaving an outstanding balance of GHc648.64 to pay to the customers.
He stated that such issues should also be looked at and both utility companies should ensure that customers paid what they actually used to prevent disputes over bills.
Mr Aduamoah-Addo said some customers complained of accumulation of bills and urged the utility companies to give customers bills regularly to avoid such compilation.
He also revealed that there were instances where GWCL per the LI 2413 Regulation 9 (1A) also lodged complaints against some 48 senior high schools in the region for not paying their bills amounting to GHC 1,298.867.05 but with the intervention of the Commission, GHC326,093.64 has been recovered for the first quarter of 2023.
He also urged customers, especially institutions to ensure they pay their bills regularly to enable the utility companies have the needed logistics to improve their services to them.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has pledged to work closely with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to address challenges affecting the delivery of justice in Ghana.
He made this known after receiving the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who paid a courtesy call on him earlier today.
The Chief Justice was accompanied by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, the Acting Director of the Ghana School of Law, Professor Raymond Atuguba, and the Judicial Secretary.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, was also present at the meeting.
Dr. Forson said the Chief Justice explained that the visit was to express appreciation for the continuous support the Ministry of Finance has given to the Judiciary.
According to him, the Chief Justice raised concerns about congestion in the courts, describing it as a major challenge that affects the speedy delivery of justice.
He said several solutions are currently being considered to help reduce the pressure on the courts.
“The Chief Justice also highlighted issues regarding the working conditions of staff within the Judiciary,” Dr. Forson stated.
He assured them of his commitment to helping resolve these problems through collaboration with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice.
“I am committed to working closely with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to tackle these challenges,” he said.
As part of the measures being considered, Dr. Forson revealed that his ministry is examining the possibility of allowing the Judiciary to use 100 percent of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to meet urgent operational needs.
He said this move, if approved, would help improve the efficiency of the courts and enhance justice delivery across the country.
The meeting forms part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Executive and the Judiciary in addressing systemic challenges within Ghana’s justice system.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has begun talks with the family of Guinea’s first President, Sékou Touré, to take possession of the house where Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah lived and worked during his final years in exile.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the move follows instructions from President John Dramani Mahama.
According to him, the Mahama administration plans to renovate and preserve the residence in Guinea as a mark of respect for Nkrumah and to protect his legacy.
He explained that the site is expected to become part of a broader historical and tourism experience that traces Nkrumah’s life from Ghana to Guinea.
The decision was formally communicated to the Sékou Touré family on Saturday during a visit led by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
The visit took place after the investiture of Guinea’s President Mamady Doumbouya.
Mr Ablakwa noted that the Ghanaian delegation toured Nkrumah’s abandoned home and was warmly received by three generations of the Sékou Touré family, led by the former president’s eldest son.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently negotiating the terms and conditions of the arrangement and engaging preservation experts to handle the restoration works.
The minister assured the public that the process will be handled openly, stressing that Ghanaians will be kept informed at every stage in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was Ghana’s first President and a leading figure in Africa’s independence and Pan African movements.
His years in Guinea symbolised the strong political and ideological ties between the two countries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
