Accra, Ghana//-Ghana’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has rolled out its cutting edge Database Management System (DBMS) to scale up utility regulations in the country.
Its primary purpose is to provide quality power, gas and water for service providers and consumers, according to the Commission.
The move will create easy access and transparency for PURC and its stakeholders in ensuring a smooth access on data to enable the Commission to disseminate the needed information and reports for efficient and effective programmes in the utility sector as well as consumers.
The launch was organized by the PURC with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group through the Korea Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) trust fund, dubbed “Effective Power Sector Regulation Through Improved Technology”.
Speaking at the virtual launch of the DBMS in Accra, the Executive Secretary of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, Mrs Mami DufieOfori said the initiative falls in line with the overall digitization agenda of government geared towards boosting the efficiency and of doing business in the utility sector for accelerated socio-economic growth and development for the country.
According to her, the DBMS add up to the latest modules of the Commission’s digitization process which also ties into the recent installation of the state of the art electricity meter testing laboratory.
It also boosts computerization of the human resource management systems and further as she explained that the next phase of the facility would enable the Commission to engage the utility service providers to access data as well as information and how best challenges will be addressed.
“PURC will continue to achieve excellence and will be a model in the utility regulatory institutions in Africa”, she said and however commended all the players who worked fervently and collectively to make the DBMS a reality.
For her part, the Minister of Communication and Digitalization, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in remarks read on her behalf said the facility will help address complaints of the utility providers, adding that it will bring to the fore the needed data and the requisite information for stakeholders in the utility space to work effectively and efficiently.
She said data plays a significant role and forms the bases and fundamentals of the initiatives in the digital drive of the economy, adding that this makes the country stand tall as the digital hub in the sub-region and said further that the smart use of data will help PURC to propel its operations with its stakeholders on a common digital platform for prompt and timely service delivery.
By Ben Laryea, African Eye Report
