Ghana Water Company – Adomonline.com

Water crisis in Teshie enclave worsens as desalination plant remains shut over debts

Joshua Tigo — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:26:47 +0000

The inadequate water supply to the Teshie-Nungua enclave of Accra in the Greater Accra Region has become worse as the Teshie-Nungua Desalination Plant remains shut down over unpaid debts.

The places hardest hit by the water shortage include Teshie, Nungua, Baatsona, Spintex, Sakumono, La and surrounding areas.

In October 2025, the Teshie-Nungua Desalination Plant, which converted seawater to potable drinking water and supplied it mainly to these areas, was shut down by the Ghana Water Company (GWL).

In shutting it down, the GWL had explained that its decision was due to unresolved contractual obligations between it and operators of the facility, and a culture of a lack of critical maintenance of the facility.

The shut down, it further explained, was to avoid further contractual difficulties and to ensure that the facility was safe.

It then assured residents at the time that the issues were going to be resolved speedily and normal operations restored while temporary measures had been put in place to mitigate the effects of the shut-down.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and assure the public that engagements are ongoing to expedite the resolution of the matter and restore normal operations,” the statement, signed by the head of PR at GWL, Stanley Martey, had assured.

But several months down the line, on January 8, 2026, the GWL had to release a water rationing schedule as the water crisis worsened following agitations from residents.

Notwithstanding the schedule, checks in these areas show that the water situation has not become any better as residents are still left with inadequate water and are forced to buy water from private individuals and firms or go outside their communities in search of the precious liquid.

It is unclear if the plant will ever start operating again given the fact that the government in 2025 failed to make any financial commitment to the running of the facility that is currently being left to rot.

In the wake of its high operation costs and other challenges, it has been established that the government unlike the previous administration that financed the running of the facility has not committed resources to the smooth running of the plant.

Documents available reveal that in 2024, the Government of Ghana (GoG) through the Ministry of Finance under the previous administration, made a payment of $13m to complement GWL payments to keep the facility running

Checks however reveal that several attempts to have the finance ministry release funds for the project in 2025 in order to keep taps of beneficiary communities running has not yielded any results, leaving officials of the Ghana Water Company in a distressing situation.

Whatever the case maybe, calls have intensified for a quick solution to the water shortages in these areas notwithstanding the schedule for water rationing.

Background

The Teshie-Nungua Desalination Plant, which was inaugurated in 2015, was designed to produce about 13 million gallons of treated water per day from seawater to serve residents along the coastal belt.

The facility was to serve about 500,000 people in the catchment areas of Teshie, Nungua, Baatsona, Sakumono, parts of La Dade Kotopon and its environs.

The Project investment totalling USD 126 million was completed in February 2015 with support from Abengoa Water, Spain and Sojitz Corporation of Japan. The project was commissioned on 17th April 2015 by the President of the Republic of Ghana.

Western Regional Minister orders crackdown on encroachment at Daboase Water Site

Gertrude Okyere — Mon, 26 May 2025 06:38:13 +0000

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, has issued a strong warning against the growing encroachment on Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) lands at the Daboase water treatment site in the Wassa East District, describing the development as illegal and detrimental to the region’s water security.

During a familiarisation visit to the site, the Minister directed GWCL to urgently demarcate the buffer zones surrounding the facility to halt further unauthorised human activities threatening this critical water resource.

“This is a major national investment. Encroachment on this land must stop immediately. The chiefs who sold land within the buffer zone claim ignorance, stating they didn’t know it was a restricted area. To prevent further encroachment, I suggest installing signposts to clearly mark the buffer zone as a no-go area. If ignored, the law should take its course,” the Minister warned.

He urged the District Chief Executive to engage local chiefs and ensure that no further activity occurs within the designated restricted zones.

The move seeks to protect the ongoing €70 million water expansion project at Daboase, being undertaken by Austrian firm Strabag. The project aims to supply 22 million gallons of water daily to Sekondi-Takoradi and its surrounding communities.

Mr Nelson expressed concern that, despite visible signs of illegal development, landowners in the area have distanced themselves from the encroachment, claiming no knowledge of how such activities commenced.

“The development of this project won’t be allowed to suffer, despite the clearing already done. Their actions are illegal and threaten the water supply to the metropolis and neighbouring communities,” he stressed.

The Daboase facility, originally built in the late 1960s with a six-million-gallon daily capacity, currently struggles—alongside the Inchaban plant (which produces four million gallons per day)—to meet rising demand. The new project is expected to close that supply gap.

According to Mr Vlad Falup, Project Manager at Strabag Engineering, “All main structures are complete. We’re currently working on the high-lift pumping station, which houses the pumps that will transport water to Inchaban and other pumping stations. The mechanical equipment is in place, and though the tanks are underground with structures above, we are confident we will finish by 7 November 2025.”

However, GWCL officials have raised red flags over the rapid rate of encroachment. Gideon Asare Annor, Western Regional Manager in charge of production at GWCL, warned that the environmental damage could jeopardise the entire investment.

“As you can see, the buffer zone has been completely encroached upon. This means the river will likely dry up faster than usual during the dry season, rendering our 22-million-gallon-per-day treatment plant idle, which would be unfortunate,” he noted.

“The encroachment is evident, especially since the area is prone to erosion. Ideally, the buffer zone should start further up to prevent runoff and protect the water source,” he added.

The situation is further exacerbated by climate change, illegal mining, and other human activities that have significantly increased water turbidity. As a result, GWCL’s water production from the Daboase plant has dropped from six million gallons per day to just over 16,000 gallons per day.

With demand for clean water in Sekondi-Takoradi and its environs steadily rising, the Regional Minister’s warning and call for immediate action have brought fresh urgency to the need for sustainable protection of Ghana’s water sources.

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Ghana Water Company to spill excess water from Weija dam

Gertrude Okyere — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:23:13 +0000

Management of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has announced plans to begin spilling excess water from the Weija Dam.

In a notice dated April 7, 2025, the company explained that the dam’s water level has been steadily rising due to the onset of rains. According to GWCL, failure to release the excess water could pose a significant threat to lives and property, as it may lead to the collapse of the dam.

Although the company did not specify an exact start date for the exercise, it stated that the spillage would begin at a low rate to minimize the impact on downstream communities. The actual rate of release, however, would depend on the volume of inflow into the dam.

GWCL assured the public that the spillage would continue as long as water levels keep rising and expressed regret for any inconvenience the exercise may cause.

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Ghana Water Company staff locked up, assaulted for disconnecting defaulter

Emmanuel Quaicoe — Fri, 10 May 2024 19:06:16 +0000

A staff of the Ghana Water Limited in the Ashanti South unit has been physically assaulted by a customer for disconnecting water supply to his home after allegedly defaulting on bills.

The staff is reported to have disconnected supply to the home of the customer after realizing he owed the company 500 Ghana cedis.

The customer, identified only as Kobby, confronted the worker on why he had cut supplies to the house.

Despite the staff explaining he was mandated to do so, Kobby reportedly locked him up in the gated compound house and assaulted the Ghana Water staff.

The worker placed a distress call to the office where management of the company together with police officers from Suntreso moved in to rescue him.

The incident, said to have occurred in Bronikrom near Abrepo in the Ashanti region, saw the staff sustain back and waist pains.

The culprit has since been arrested as police investigate the incident.

Speaking with Luv News in an interview, Public Relations Officer of the Water Company in Ashanti, Ebenezer Padi Narh, indicated the workers, particularly meter readers, are living in trepidation.

But he says the company is poised to take on any customer who thwarts the operations of the company, while assuring safety for their workers.

“They are in fear. Management is always ready to assist them in dealing with recalcitrant customers who’d want to attack them or impede their operations. This is something we will not take lightly,” he said.
The afflicted worker is reported to be receiving treatment at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the company says such “uncouth” behaviour will not be tolerated as it could potentially affect the operational cycle of the water company.

Ghana Water Company announces Weija Dam spillage

Adwoa Agyeman — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 13:04:28 +0000

Management of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) will soon begin spillage of excess water from the Weija dam.

This has become necessary because of the sudden rise of the level of the dam.

“The level of the Dam as of Friday 28th April, 2023 is 46ft, 1ft below the maximum safe operating level of 47ft. The dam levels are monitored on an hourly basis and the GWCL will not hesitate to open the spill gates, should the level go above 46.5ft, so as not to compromise the integrity of the dam and to avert any disaster,” a statement from Ghana Water Company said.

The GWCL added that to

ensure that the damage caused as a result of the spillage is kept at a minimum; the Weija Municipal Assembly has been informed to desilt the estuary to enable easy flow of the water into the sea and to clear heaps of refuse along the course of the river.

By this release, Management of GWCL is also informing the general public who have property downstream of the imminent danger and therefore must take the necessary precautionary measures.

Affected communities include; Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Ada Kopey and surrounding communities.

Below is the GWCL release:

WEIJA DAM WATER SPILLAGE EARLY WARNING

With the onset of the rains, Management of Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) wishes to inform the public, especially citizens living downstream of the Weija Dam, that it will begin spillage of excess water from the dam any time soon.

The level of the Dam as of Friday 28th April, 2023 is 46ft, 1ft below the maximum safe operating level of 47ft. The dam levels are monitored on an hourly basis and the GWCL will not hesitate to open the spill gates, should the level go above 46.5ft, so as not to compromise the integrity of the dam and to avert any disaster.

The Management of GWCL is by this release sounding a word of caution to inhabitants downstream to evacuate the area to forestall any eventuality. The Municipal Assembly has also been informed to desilt the estuary to enable easy flow of the water into the sea and to clear heaps of refuse along the course of the river. The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), National Security, Chiefs of Weija, Ogblogo, Tetegu, Weija, Gbawe, opinion leaders and all stakeholders including institutions and organizations who have properties downstream have been informed of the development and current situation at the dam.

The communities likely to be affected include Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Adakope and surrounding communities.

Management of GWCL expects that the public will be supportive in this exercise to avoid a reoccurrence of the disaster that has occurred in the past.

Ghana Water Company staff protest against Deputy MD nominee

Adwoa Agyeman — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:51:10 +0000

The Public Utilities Workers’ Union of the Trades Union Congress and some staff of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) are protesting the nomination of a Deputy Managing Director (MD), Finance and Administration, Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah, to the company.

Clad in red, the union and the staff said Mr Nuamah does not have the required qualification for the job and, thus, should not be considered for the position.

Addressing the media, the first Vice Trustee of the Public Utilities Workers’ Union, Samuel Amo-Kakabaah, called on the appointing authority to consider someone from the company with expertise other than an unqualified one.

“We are here to register our position on the nomination of a Deputy Managing Director-Finance and Administration for Ghana Water. Our position is spelt out in the petition we have written to the Chief of Staff, we have copied the director of SIGA, board chairman of Ghana Water, Managing Director and the Minister. Our position is very clear and simple, we want to state on record that we are not against the appointment of heads of entity by the presidency, but our concern is that the position of the Managing Director is an appointee of the presidency, but the Deputy Managing Director’s position is a position we feel should be filled with people with both the technical and institutional knowledge of our operations.

“We believe that the technical people will also help the Managing Director who is a political appointee to do his work appropriately. The profile of the purported nominee indicates that he lacks the requisite professional qualification to be a Deputy MD. We want the appointing authority to consider that.”

GWCL cuts water supply to over 20 houses at Chorkor over illegal connections

Adwoa Agyeman — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 10:23:55 +0000

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has disconnected 20 houses at Chorkor from the national water supply system after the occupants were found to have bypassed the metering system.

The persons who were found culpable of the illegal act were given letters to report to the regional office of the GWCL for correction of the anomalies.

Others who were using the service without paying would also be surcharged by the GWCL.

Most of the offenders were persons who were using commercial meters and selling water to the community or running public washrooms.

Exercise

The exercise was undertaken by the Regional Communications Accra-West Region of the GCGL.

It follows a recent proposal for an upward tariffs adjustment of 334 per cent to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for approval for 2022.

Reasons the GWCL put forward for the increase included losses resulting from the tampering of its meters and illegal connections.

The GWCL team discovered a practice whereby some residents disconnect the water supply from passing through the meter and connect pipes to fill their tanks.

Some of the residents claimed to be ignorant about the illegal connections.

They said the illegal connections were done years ago by relatives who have since passed on.

A resident, Khadijatu Neequaye said she had already informed a GWCL about issues with her meter and the officer had assured her that it would be resolved.

The Regional Communications Manager, Accra GWCL, Solace Akomeah in an interview said the practice robs the company of much-needed revenue.

“The money doesn’t come to us, the water is being used but we don’t get the money,” Ms Akomeah said in an interview.

“You can produce a bucket of water but you will end up selling half of even less, that is how serious it is.

“That is why from time to time, we mobilise ourselves and go to the field based on tip-offs or what our taskforce has uncovered”.

Obuasi could be out of water supply anytime soon – Ghana Water Company warns

Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:37:38 +0000

The Ghana Water Company Limited has hinted of possible water cuts to the Obuasi municipality in the Ashanti region if the activities of illegal miners do not stop immediately.

Galamsey activities have led to the heavy pollution of the Oda River in Obuasi, which is the main source of water for the Odaso treatment plant.

The water company says chemicals for treatment, daily maintenance of machines and bursting of pipes by road contractors are draining them financially.

Speaking to Nhyira FM’s Kwadwo Jantuah on Kuro Yi Mu Nsem show, the Ashanti Regional PRO for the Ghana Water, Ebenezer Paddy Nah, said he fears these activities will lead to water-cut to Obuasi which could result into water importation.

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“How things are going, there will come a time we [Ghana Water Company] won’t be able to provide water for Obuasi.

The turbidity of the water, chemicals for treatment, daily maintenance are really draining the Company.

Even after treating the water, the contractor of the road always burst the transmission pipes which is affecting our work.

“If we do not stop these activities, we will soon result into water importation.”

Paddy Nah says the company will continue to serve the people with clean water based on availability, but warns of the impending danger.

“Ghana Water Company is doing its best to provide water for the people, even if it is little.

“The people in return should help the company.

“After treating the water for the people, payment of water bills become a problem which is not helping the activities of the company.

“Ghana water company is for all us, and everyone who drinks water from the company should to pay.”