Dr. Opoku Prempeh flanked by Management of GIMPA and PURC
Energy Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh has launched the PURC- GIMPA Center of Excellence in Public Utilities.
The centre is aimed at developing the competencies and expertise of individuals in regulation and governance for the electricity, water, natural gas and other public utility sectors of the country.
The Centre will offer programmes in Introduction to Utility Regulation, Advanced Utility Regulation, Regulatory Economics and Modeling, Utility Management for Optimal Performance, Regulation of Water Services and Performance Management, Regulation of Energy Services and Performance Management among others.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh commended GIMPA and PURC for such a move as it was timely and relevant given the emerging dynamics in the energy sector.
He entreated policymakers, regulators, utility service providers, industry players, civil society organizations to make use of the centre in order to build the expertise necessary to move the energy sector into the future.
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of PURC, Dr. Ishmael Ackah said the centre will provide a high-level policy-relevant research, by encouraging scholarly dialogues and publications on utility regulation.
GIMPA Rector, Prof. Kwaku Bonsu said the Centre would be a leading point of ideas and policies to support not only Ghana’s PURC but also similar institutions across the continents.
“We at GIMPA are very proud of this initiative to enrich the intellectual environment for utilities regulation in Ghana and across the globe,” he noted.
He stated that the launch of the Centre coincided with the planned restructuring of the GIMPA School of Public Service and Governance into a hub of intellectual activities focused on the business of government and parastatal organizations.
PURC Board chairman, Ebo Quagrainie, said the Centre would not only contribute to cutting edge research but will go a long way to enhance capacity development, efficiency and innovation among regulated.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah