THE Minister of 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 a working visit to the GWL head office, in Accra.
Mr Adjei engaged with the management of GWL, led by the company’s Managing Director (MD), 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.
Mr Adjei stated that, “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 were key.
Mr Adjei acknowledged the crucial role GWL played in urban water supply, and reiterated his pledged to support and enhance the company’s efficiency.
He assured the government’s determination to support the efforts, to address issues such as Non-Revenue Water (NRW) losses, infrastructure rehabilitation and sustainable water management.
Additionally, Mr Adjei mentioned that the government would work together with GWL management to overcome challenges 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, noted that the company is operated under 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 improving service delivery, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring financial sustainability.
In its quest to improve urban water supply, Mr Mutawakilu underlined that 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 aging pumps, installation of Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVRs), and dredging of water intake points at Sekyere Hemang, Owabi, Winneba, and Nsawam.
Moreover, 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 on its ability to invest in system improvements.
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.
BY TIMES REPORTER
