{
  "id": 3718015,
  "title": "PURC seeks safeguards for utility lines amid construction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/purc-seeks-safeguards-for-utility-lines-amid-construction-3718015",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T09:52:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/purc-seeks-safeguards-for-utility-lines-amid-construction/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is to bring together road contractors and utility service providers to address the increasing damage to water and other utility infrastructure caused by road construction. This initiative comes in response to concerns over major pipelines and other facilities being disrupted in various parts of the country as the government escalates road construction under the Big Push programme. During a media engagement in the Western Region, PURC Executive Secretary Dr Shafic Suleman revealed that the Commission will collaborate with the Ministry of Roads and Highways, contractors, and utility providers to establish a more proactive approach to safeguarding critical infrastructure. Utility companies will be obliged to provide contractors with maps detailing major transmission and distribution lines and pipelines to guide construction activities. Dr Suleman warned that contractors who damage critical utility infrastructure despite having access to relevant information could be required to bear the cost of restoring services. He also urged consumers experiencing disruptions to water or electricity supply due to construction activities to report the issue to the Commission. The PURC delegation has already addressed some complaints and communicated with the Ministry of Roads and Highways regarding the need for contractors to protect utility installations. One such project is the Daboase Water Treatment Plant, which is nearing completion following a €70-million expansion. This new facility is projected to significantly enhance water production for the Sekondi-Takoradi region and surrounding areas, with a design capacity of 100,000 cubic meters of water per day. Dr Suleman stated that the completion of the plant could substantially improve water supply in Takoradi and Sekondi, although challenges persist in terms of transmission pipelines. He informed that Ghana Water has assured the completion of the pipeline linking the Daboase plant to the twin cities as part of the project's second phase, which is expected to include an additional treatment plant and pipeline expansion. However, Dr Suleman cautioned that even with the improved treatment capacity, the region's water challenges will not be resolved if illegal mining continues to pollute raw water sources. He emphasized that galamsey activities along water sources exacerbate the cost of treating water and threaten sustainable water supply. PURC has previously identified siltation from construction and galamsey activities as significant challenges affecting water supply in the Western Region. For consumers, Dr Suleman assured that the Commission will continue to handle complaints related to poor service quality and ensure that utility providers and contractors take measures to restore affected services.",
  "summary": "The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) is set to bring road contractors and utility service providers together to address the growing damage to water and other utility infrastructure during road construction. The move follows concerns over major pipelines and other facilities being interfered with in parts of the country as government intensifies road construction under […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}