Workers in the utility sector call for efficiency in service delivery

The Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU) has challenged government to release the needed funds for utility companies to make them more vibrant to meet the ever-increasing demands of customers.

The Union is unhappy at the seemingly lukewarm attitude by successive governments in giving the utility sector the needed attention; a development that had given rise to over-tasked plants, obsolete equipment, deteriorating service lines and infrastructure.

Some of the companies are still using equipment that were installed over 30 years ago, while others had out-lived their usefulness thus affecting quality and reliable service delivery.

Mr. Jerry Addo, General-Secretary of PUWU, who was addressing the 10th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the Union in Kumasi, said water, power and housing were essential for national development and as such those sectors should be given the needed attention.

The two-day conference is under the theme: “Towards more efficient and reliable service delivery in the utility sector - the role of stakeholders.”

The conference, amongst others, is to take stock of their activities and strategize effectively to improve their performance at their various workplaces.

Mr. Addo said, operations of the companies must be devoid of political manipulations and expressed the dissatisfaction of the Union at the regular changes in management and boards of the utility companies for political expediency.

He said the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for instance had since last year had four acting Managing Directors, a situation that most often affected corporate plans and objectives to the detriment of the growth of the company.

The General-Secretary cautioned the workers to have a change in attitude towards work by exhibiting a high sense of professionalism at all times.

Mr. Enoch Teye-Mensah, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, in a speech read on his behalf said his Ministry was worried at the poor attitude to work by some of the workers which affected productivity.

The workers, he said, should eschew illegal practices such as conniving with the public to facilitate illegal connections for the benefit of the nation.

The Minister assured utility companies of government’s resolve to support them with the requisite resources to improve their performance.**