Small scale businesses in Brong-Ahafo cry over power outages

By Dennis Peprah, GNA

Nkoranza, (B/A), Oct. 26, GNA – Intermittent
power outages in parts of Brong-Ahafo has attracted the displeasure of small
scale and medium term businesses in the region.

They are comprised of operators of barbering
shops, cold stores, tailors, hairdressers, dressmakers, welders, and sachet
water producers and sellers.

The business entrepreneurs have therefore
appealed to the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) to set up regional
and district offices to receive and help address their complaints with urgency.

At a sensitization meeting held at Nkoranza on
Thursday, the entrepreneurs expressed worry that the PURC did not have offices
at the district and regional levels.

The Brong-Ahafo Coalition of Business
Association (BACBA) in collaboration with the Centre for Interest and Posterity
Organisation (COPIO), a Non-Governmental Organisation, and service providers
organised the meeting.

Aimed at helping to identify and address
bottlenecks affecting the economic activities of small scale businesses, the
meeting formed part of an advocacy project being implemented by the Association
with support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC).

Mr. Mustapha Maison Yeboah, the Board Chairman
of BACBA, described the operations of the Volta River Authority (VRA)
particularly in Dormaa and Nkoranza Municipalities as well as Nkoranza North
District as poor and appealed to the PURC to intervene.

He alleged that economic activities of many of
the entrepreneurs in Brong-Ahafo were collapsing gradually because of rampant
power outages

Dr John Akparep, a researcher and a lecturer
at the University of Development Studies (UDS) urged the PURC to place priority
on interest of utility users and established offices at least at regional
offices.

GNA

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