Dr Shafic Suleman appointed Executive Secretary of PURC

Dr Shafic Suleman, a senior lecturer at the Institute for Oil and Gas Studies at the University of Cape Coast has been appointed Executive Secretary for the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

He takes over from Dr Ishmael Ackah who has been in the helm of affairs over the past few years.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission is the economic regulator for electricity and water in Ghana.

About Dr Shafic Suleman

Dr. Shafic Suleman, Ph.D., MSc., BA., LLB., ERP., is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Oil and Gas Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Shafic specializes in energy and sustainability, energy and development, petroleum economics and development, energy policy and law, climate change and risk management.

He has been involved in teaching, research and consultancy services in energy and other related areas. Shafic holds a PhD in Energy and Sustainability from the De Montfort University in Leicester, UK.

Shafic Suleman is a certified Energy Risk Professional (ERP) from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP-USA), with an MSc in Energy Management from Robert Gorden University Aberdeen, UK.

Dr Suleman also holds a BA in Geography from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana respectively.

Dr Suleman areas of specialization include Energy and Sustainability; Petroleum and Energy Economics; Energy Policy and Law and Climate Change and Risk Management.

About PURC

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission  (PURC) was established in October 1997 under the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act, 1997 (Act 538) as a multi-sector regulator to regulate the provision of electricity and water utility services. The establishment of the Commission was part of the Government of Ghana’s utility sector reform process.

By virtue of the Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541) PURC also regulates transportation of natural gas services.

Under Section 4 of Act 538, PURC is an independent body and is not subject to the control of any authority in the performance of its functions. The Commission however submits annual operational and financial reports to Parliament. The Office of the President also exercises some administrative oversight for the Commission.

PURC is made up of nine Commissioners including a Chairman, an Executive Secretary, an institutional representative each for labour, industry and domestic consumers, as well as 4 experts in various aspects of the Commission’s work. Commissioners are appointed by the President in consultation with the Council of State for five-year terms, which are renewable.  The Commission is supported by a Secretariat headed by the Executive Secretary.

Source: ghextrctives.com