- AfDB, KOAFEC funds database for Ghana’s PURC
- The database aims to improve the operations of the PURC
The African Development Bank and the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund have approved funding for a Database Management System (DBMS) for the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) of Ghana. The database aims to improve the collation, analysis and monitoring of data for utility regulations.
Ghana’s Minister of Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who spoke at the virtual launch of the system, stated that the use of data would be transformational to the sector. “Our ability to process, analyse and be innovative with the data we generate is therefore critical, and I am happy to note that capacity building is a key component of the investment we are launching today.”, she said.
Executive Secretary PURC, Mami Dufie Ofori, stated that the new system was in line with the overall digitisation agenda of the government, which aims to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of doing business in Ghana for accelerated socio-economic development.
South Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Lim Jung-Taek, praised the initiative and indicated the project is a step for Korea to share its economic development experience with African countries. “The PURC has played a critical role in supporting Ghana’s electrification goals by providing clear monitoring. The DBMS will further allow the PURC to function more effectively and strengthen energy regulation by eliminating manual data storage and processing system”, he said.
In his remarks, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth at the AfDB, Dr Kevin Kariuki, reiterated the Bank’s steadfast support for African member countries. “Through its flagship Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa, the Bank has cumulatively assessed the regulatory frameworks of over 40 different African countries, identified regulatory bottlenecks and formulated bespoke solutions to address them. The execution of the DBMS initiative is, therefore, part of the Bank’s efforts to implement recommendations of the ERI in member countries,” Dr Kariuki stated.