Proposed PURC, Energy Commission merger: We’ll respect views of stakeholders – Krapa
Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Herbert Krapa, says stakeholder engagement is ongoing to finalise the proposed merger between the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and the Energy Commission of Ghana.
This proposal, which has gained traction among industry experts and policymakers, aims to streamline regulatory functions, reduce operational costs, and eliminate potential overlaps in the oversight of Ghana’s energy sector.
The Institute of Energy Security is one leading voice that has expressed support for the merger, arguing that combining the two regulatory bodies into a single entity will not only result in cost savings but also enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of energy regulation in Ghana.
In a media interview following an event to mark Customer Focus Week at the Energy Ministry, Mr Krapa indicated that the government hopes to get an efficient regulator after the stakeholder consultation.
“My position is the position that will be the outcome of the stakeholder consultation. What we are looking for is an efficient regulator, whether the technical and the financial are put together to ensure that we are more efficient, and more effective, or whether we continue to decouple them.
“The consultations are ongoing. My position is the position of the outcome of the consultations, ultimately culminating into an efficient regulator for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.”
He also urged agencies and departments under the Energy Ministry to improve the quality of services they provide to their clients and customers.
“I am excited that we have been able to celebrate this Client Focus Week, and marked it, and I understand that we are the only ministry that is doing so. It speaks to how seriously we take our clients, where our theme is to ensure that we are going beyond and above ourselves.
“And I hope that it will be an opportunity for all our agencies and the ministry as well to reflect on how we can improve on the services that we provide to our customers”.