As part of a strategic effort to foster collaboration, the Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Akosua Adjei Awatey, has paid a working visit to some government agencies in the Eastern Region.
The visitation was to discuss challenges and find lasting solutions hindering the agencies in the region. Hon. Akosua Adjei Awatey visited the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Water Limited (GWL), and many others.
Hon. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey stated that the Coordinating Council is committed to working with GWL, ECG, and other stakeholders closely in the region. She pleaded for reliability, access, and quality water, adding that some customers are not benefiting from the GWL water supply in some areas.
On measures to fight irresponsible mining activities, Hon. Rita Adjei Awatey disclosed that her outfit has seized almost 10 excavators through operations by the Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC).
‘‘Until we are able to take all the excavators, because without the excavator they can’t use their hands. We are taking all excavators from galamseyers. We will know who deserves to mine and where the mining should go on. We know illegal mining is affecting the water supply in the region,’’ Hon. Rita Adjei Awatey vowed.
Hon. Rita Adjei Awatey also called for collaboration among the agencies to boost productivity and improve stronger relationships in the region. She commended the stakeholders for their diligent effort in the region.
Hon. Rita Adjei Awatey visited the Bukunor, Dansuano, and Obuortaberi water treatment plants in the Eastern Region as part of her working visitation.
The regional chief manager of the Eastern Regional Head Office of the GWL, Ing Paul Cletus Akpanya, stressed the high cost of production as a result of tainted water by illegal miners.
According to the regional chief manager, the situation at hand is very difficult, as some greedy Ghanaians are destroying water bodies in the region.
Ing. Paul Akpanya lamented over the frequent breakdowns of water pumps as a result of galamsey, adding that some Ghanaians are blocking clean water flowing from river bodies with bamboo in their mining process.
Due to the high level of illegal mining in the region, Ing. Paul Akpanya says water turbidity is affecting chemical costs and water treatment in the region.
He added that interventions are put in place to improve water supply in the region, particularly for customers in the New Juaben, indicating a massive pipeline project at the Krobo enclaves.
Ing. Paul Akpanya bemoaned the bad habits of some road contractors causing damage to pipelines in the region. He called for stakeholders’ engagement before commencement of road projects.
He said that GWL is working tremendously with internal expertise to restore an old treatment plant into operations with installment water pumps to serve customers in Nsawam and its environs. He disclosed that GWL is serving about 60,000 customers in 11 districts in the eastern region.
At the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Hon. Rita Adjei Awatey met the General Manager in Charge of the Eastern Region, Ing. Sariel Adobea Etwire, with her team at the regional office of the ECG.
Ing Sariel Adobea stated that ECG is upgrading its systems and working effectively to improve its service delivery to its clients in the Eastern Region.
Ing. Sariel Adobea briefed the regional minister on illegal connections by some clients in the region, which is affecting revenue generation for the company.
Speaking at the ECG bulk power supply point at Akyem Tafo as part of the regional minister’s tour, Ing. Sariel Adobea emphasized that the commercial losses, including transformer theft, illegal connections, and others, are challenges confronting ECG.
She cautioned Ghanaians to pay their bills to help ECG to carry out its mandate smoothly and desist from illegal connections.
Madam Sakyiwaa Mensah, the ECG Tema Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO), highlighted some interventions developed by the ECG to serve customers in the Yilo Krobo Municipality to the Regional Minister.
Madam Sakyiwaa Mensah recalled that they installed prepaid meters in Yilo Krobo and its neighboring environments. She added that they have created WhatsApp platforms to work closely with Assembly Members in the area as part of customer service delivery.
The Tema Regional PRO articulated that electricity is not a free commodity, calling on institutions and community members to pay their bills to ECG.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Akosua Asabea Kropa/Nhyiraba Solomon Nartey
