The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), in collaboration with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), has introduced the “Tamale in Focus Project.” The project aims to reduce commercial losses and enhance service delivery across the Northern Region.
This initiative is part of a broader campaign aimed at enhancing the financial health and operational efficiency of utility service providers. It specifically targets the rampant issue of power and water theft, a problem threatening the stability of NEDCo and GWCL.
According to GWCL, between January 2024 and May 2025, the company lost GH¢88.5 million due to illegal connections, recording 1,145 theft cases. Similarly, NEDCo reported GH¢195 million in electricity losses in Tamale alone after purchasing GH¢370 million worth of power during the same period.
The PURC states that the Tamale in Focus Project will foster closer collaboration between utility providers, the media, and the public. The goal is to raise awareness, promote responsible consumption, and improve enforcement.
At the launch in Tamale, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John, called the initiative a much-needed intervention. “This project brings stakeholders—especially utility companies, the media, and the public—into a common space to work together toward reducing the high commercial losses these service providers face,” he said.
The Minister warned that the rising levels of illegal connections and debt in Tamale are pushing utilities to a breaking point. “If care is not taken, we may wake up one day to find these institutions on the verge of collapse,” he cautioned.
He urged consumers to pay their bills on time and avoid illegal practices, emphasizing that sustainable services depend on shared responsibility.
Mr. Adolf John also praised the Northern Regional Office of PURC for addressing over 93% of the 319 complaints it received in the first quarter of 2025. He encouraged the Commission to maintain its efforts to protect consumers and ensure high-quality service.
The Minister further urged public and private institutions with utility debts to commit to repayment plans, stressing the importance of timely debt settlement in maintaining operations.
“Tamale in Focus Project” has received full support from the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, with Mr. Adolf John calling on the media and all stakeholders to get behind the initiative.
PURC’s Northern Regional Manager, Mr. Simon Ali, expressed confidence in the Tamale in Focus Project’s potential. He announced the formation of a media coalition to combat power and water theft, which will identify and publicly expose individuals involved in illegal activities.
After the launch of Tamale in Focus Project, NEDCo’s Northern Regional Manager, Ing. Elvis A. Demnyakor, addressed the alarming energy loss figures. He shared that the Tamale and Yendi Bulk Supply Points account for 96% of NEDCo’s total energy losses in the Northern region. “We procured about GH¢370 million worth of electricity, and nearly GH¢195 million was lost in Tamale alone,” he stated. “These losses are simply not sustainable.”
Although areas like Damongo and Buipe report lower losses, he warned that unchecked losses in Tamale and Yendi could disrupt power supply across the region. “If this trend continues, we risk waking up one day without power,” he warned.
Ing. Demnyakor also cited operational challenges, such as limited access to transformers and ageing power lines, which hinder reliable service delivery. “Our inability to raise enough revenue is hindering investment in critical upgrades, which in turn affects our service quality,” he added.
He called for urgent, collective action from all stakeholders to reverse the current trends and stabilize the electricity supply in the Northern Region. Tamale in Focus Project.
