Professor Thomas Mba Akabzaa, recently appointed chairman of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has died, casting a pall over his new role in the country’s critical regulatory agency. He was 65.
The cause of death has not been officially disclosed, but family members confirmed he passed away Thursday, April 17, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre in Accra.
Prof. Akabzaa had been appointed to the post by President John Dramani Mahama and was formally sworn in virtually on March 28, 2025, alongside the eight-member PURC board. His appointment was seen as a strategic move, bringing deep academic and policy experience to a sector facing growing demands and scrutiny.
A professor in the Department of Earth Science at the University of Ghana, Akabzaa built a reputation as one of the country’s foremost experts on mining, environmental policy, and natural resources. His scholarly work garnered over 2,200 citations and informed national policy debates on the environmental impacts of resource extraction.
Among his notable publications were Boom and Dislocation: Environmental and Social Impacts of Mining in the Wassa West District of Ghana and The Glittering Façade: Environmental and Health Impacts of Mining in the Obuasi Area. Both texts remain widely referenced in Ghana’s environmental and mining policy circles.
Prof. Akabzaa’s public service career included a six-year tenure as Chief Director at the Ministry of Energy, from 2011 to 2017, during which he was twice recognized as the ministry’s Best Performing Chief Director. He also served on several strategic boards, including as Chairman of the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited.
His passing leaves a vacancy at the helm of the PURC at a time when Ghana’s energy and utility sectors are navigating complex regulatory challenges and infrastructure demands.
He is survived by his family, colleagues, and a legacy of rigorous academic and public service contributions to Ghana’s energy and environmental sectors.
Source:TheDotNews