The Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Dr. Shafiq Sulemana, has underscored the importance of inclusive stakeholder engagement in addressing Ghana’s water challenges and improving service delivery for citizens.
According to Dr. Sulemana, ensuring access to safe, affordable and reliable water supply for all Ghanaians requires strong collaboration among regulators, utility providers, government agencies and private sector innovators.
He made the remarks following a meeting with a delegation from Clear Water Africa, led by its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ryan York, at the PURC headquarters in Accra.
In a Facebook post, Dr. Sulemana described the discussions as fruitful and focused on practical solutions to improve water quality and accountability, particularly within the water tanker supply chain.
The meeting also explored a proposal by Clear Water Africa to introduce a District Metered Area (DMA) system aimed at reducing non-revenue water losses across the country.
A key highlight of the engagement was the presentation of findings from a 12-month study conducted by Clear Water Africa on the water tanker and borehole supply market in the Greater Accra Region.
The study revealed that nearly one million residents in the region continue to rely on informal water sources daily, often paying high prices for water with little or no guarantee of quality and safety.
Dr. Sulemana said the findings present an opportunity for broader national reflection on Ghana’s water situation and the urgent need for collaborative interventions.
“I believe that providing safe and affordable water for every Ghanaian requires the involvement of all relevant agencies such as regulators, utilities and innovators alike,” he stated.
He further assured the delegation of the Commission’s commitment to advancing discussions with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ghana Water Limited, the Water Resources Commission and other players within the sector.
The delegation, in turn, expressed appreciation to the PURC for the engagement and reiterated its readiness to work closely with the Commission to improve water governance and service delivery in Ghana.
The latest engagement forms part of efforts to strengthen partnerships and develop sustainable solutions to address persistent water supply challenges, particularly in rapidly growing urban communities.
By: Christian Kpesese
