Water Resources Minister commends GWL, Reaffirms Government Commitment to Universal Water Access

The Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has commended Ghana Water Limited (GWL) for its efforts in expanding urban water supply and improving service delivery.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring universal access to potable water following his working visit to the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) head office in Accra.

Mr. Adjei engaged with the management of GWL, led by the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, to assess the company’s operations, challenges, and strategic initiatives aimed at improving water supply across urban Ghana.

 

Speaking during the engagement, the Minister, who assured of the Government’s dedication to ensuring all Ghanaians had access to safe and affordable water, said the Government was committed to providing the necessary resources and policy interventions to ensure GWL succeeded in its mandate.

The minister said, “Access to clean water is a fundamental right, and we will work closely with stakeholders to improve infrastructure, address operational challenges, and enhance service delivery.”.

He further noted that water sector development remained a priority for the government, adding that funding for infrastructure projects aimed at expanding water supply networks across the country was key.

Mr. Adjei acknowledged the crucial role GWL played in urban water supply and reiterated his pledged support to enhance the company’s efficiency.

He stressed the government’s determination to support the efforts to address issues such as non-revenue water (NRW) losses, infrastructure rehabilitation, and sustainable water management.

He said the government also recognised the challenges GWL faced and would work together with management to overcome them through policy interventions and strategic investments.

Providing an overview of the company’s operations, Mr. Mutawakilu, outlining GWL’s governance framework and structures to ensure efficiency and accountability, said the company operated under a Board of Directors and had multiple divisions, including Water Treatment and Quality Management, Finance and Accounting, Business Development, and Regional Operations covering 15 operational regions.

GWL, he noted, currently oversees 92 water systems, serving an estimated 17 million people with a goal to continuously improve service delivery, enhance efficiency, and ensure financial sustainability.

In its quest to improve urban water supply, Mr. Mutawakilu said the GWL had undertaken significant projects, including the expansion of transmission lines to improve primary transmission networks from Kpong to Tema to enhance supply reliability.

In infrastructure rehabilitation, the MD mentioned, among others, the replacement of ageing pumps, installation of Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVRs), and dredging of water intake points at Sekyere Hemang, Owabi, Winneba, and Nsawam.

Mr. Mutawakilu indicated that one of the major challenges the company is confronted with is Non-Revenue Water (NRW), thus water lost through leaks, theft, and metering inaccuracies.

Currently, NRW accounts for significant losses in the company’s revenue, impacting its ability to invest in system improvements.

To mitigate that, the MD stated that the GWL is in the process of implementing several initiatives, including the upgrading of metering systems to improve accuracy, reducing billing errors, and using technology such as drones and GIS mapping to detect and fix leaks promptly while encouraging responsible water usage and prompt bill payments.

Mr. Mutawakilu said to ensure sustainable water delivery, the GWL planned to reduce NRW by one to two percent annually.

Also, he said scaling up e-business solutions, including electronic payments and digital monitoring of operations, and strengthening collaborations with government agencies to combat water source pollution were some strategies the company was embarking on.

On the breakdown of water treatment plants, pumps, and distribution pipelines, which also posed maintenance challenges, Mr. Mutawakilu disclosed that investments were being made to reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency through a Performance Improvement Programme (PIP).

Mr. Adjei, in response, reiterated the government’s readiness to support those strategies and prioritise water accessibility as part of a broader infrastructure development agenda.

He further affirmed that the Ministry would work closely with GWL to ensure that urban water supply met growing demand while ensuring affordability.

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