Speaking on JoyNews, he said, “One of the big issues causing Ghana Water to lose so much money is illegal connections… and people not paying their money on time, especially government institutions who are owing so much money.”

Martey explained that while government payments may not always be timely, GWCL has systems in place to manage these debts.

“Currently, all loans have been online to Ghana Water Limited, and sometimes the government uses that to offset our indebtedness to them. There are certain times the government will pay half a year or a full year of its indebtedness to us, and when they do that, it helps. Any time it is done, we still manage the system,” he added.

The comments come after the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced upward adjustments to water and electricity tariffs following the completion of its 2026–2030 Multi-Year Tariff Review (MYTO).

Effective January 1, 2026, water tariffs are set to rise by 15.92%, while electricity tariffs will increase by 9.86% for all customer categories.

The PURC said the new rates were determined after months of investment hearings, stakeholder consultations, and regional public forums.

The regulator cited projected production and sales volumes, non-revenue water levels, expected capital investments, and prevailing macroeconomic conditions as key factors in the adjustment.

Martey said the company remains committed to managing its operations efficiently despite these pressures.

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According to him, Ghana Water was contractually obligated to pay GH¢650,000 biweekly to secure internet services.

However, instead of paying these payments to the official NSB account, the embattled former Director-General allegedly diverted the funds into a private company account—Bureau of National Communications Company Limited—which he co-owns with his wife.

“The contract document showed that Ghana Water was to pay BNC the sum of 650,000 Ghana cedis every two weeks for secure internet services from BNC, that is the Bureau of National Communications.

“However, for purposes of the payment, Kwabena Adu Buahene provided the account details of his company, BNC Communication Limited, to Ghana Water, which religiously paid for the Internet services,” he detailed.

In 2020, after the Bureau of National Communications (BNC) officially rebranded to National Signals Bureau (NSB), the Ghana Water Company requested that payments be made to the new NSB account.

However, the Attorney General at a press conference on Wednesday disclosed that Mr. Adu-Boahen continued to reroute the payments into his private company’s account after receiving them at the official bureau.

“This criminal enterprise involved the purported provision of secure Internet services to Ghana Water Company Limited by the erstwhile Bureau of National Communications, now National Signals Bureau,” Ayine stated.

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This decision follows an earlier directive to all heads of government institutions to annul recruitments made after December 7, 2024, citing concerns over adherence to good governance practices.

Institutions are required to submit a detailed report on the implementation of this directive by February 17, 2025.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 11, GWL instructed that all recruits appointed in November 2024 and posted to various regions, but not yet added to the payroll as of January 2025, be suspended.

The management explained that this suspension is necessary to facilitate a thorough review and audit of the recruitment process.

“Further directives will be issued as needed,” the statement added.

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The Commission, in a letter dated 14th January 2025, signed by the Regional Manager, Kesewaa Apenteng-Addo, has also ordered GWL to indicate the steps it has taken and will take to resolve the challenge.

Meanwhile, a team from the Commission is scheduled to visit the affected communities in the Krobo area to assess the situation and hold community engagements with residents, assembly members, opinion leaders, and representatives of the two petitioning groups, among others.

The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, 23rd January 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Atua Hospital Junction Durbar Ground, aims to enable the Commission to gather further information regarding the water crisis to help avert a looming communal outburst.

It is worth recalling that two vibrant youth groups in the Krobo area, Kloma Gbi and Kloma Hengme, in a letter dated 14th January 2025, petitioned PURC to compel GWL to restore the flow of potable water to communities such as Sawer in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, and Atua, Kodjonya, Odumase South, etc., in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The above-mentioned communities, among several others, have not had access to treated water from Ghana Water Limited for over six months, following the destruction of some underground pipes due to ongoing construction works on the Somanya-Odumase-Kpong road, which runs through the two municipalities.

This phenomenon has greatly incensed the people of the affected communities, largely due to what they describe as indifference on the part of GWL and General Construction and Development Limited, the construction company working on the road, necessitating the petition by the two groups.

Director of Communications for Kloma Gbi, Henking A. Adjase-Kodjo, expressed satisfaction at the level of attention accorded the petition by PURC. He commended the Regional Manager, Kesewa Apenteng-Addo, and her team for the steps taken so far. He expressed hope that further actions would be taken to remedy the situation within a matter of days.

Dr. Eric Tamatey Lawer, General Secretary for Kloma Hengme, also commended PURC and urged the Commission to address the general and persistent issue of inadequate water supply to the Krobo area, beyond the recent disruption caused by road construction. “We are asking for equity in the distribution of water to the Krobo area and other towns,” he added.

About Kloma Gbi

Kloma Gbi is a youth-driven network established on the conviction of the need for a more effective and active voice for the Krobo state. The association exists to rally progress-minded youth of Krobo ancestry and leverage their expertise, vitality, and sense of patriotism to promote the welfare of the people and the Krobo state on issues of education, development, and general welfare.

With an initial presence on social networks in 2010, the network transformed into a formidable group of learned, like-minded, and farsighted young men and women. Kloma Gbi seeks to be precisely what its name offers—being the most effective, recognized, vocal, and representative voice for the Krobo community, working in close partnership with local and traditional authorities, voluntary, public, and private sector organizations, and residents in the best interest of the Krobo state.

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The Ghana Water Limited in the region has revealed the river, which is already heavily polluted by illegal mining activities, has rather turned more turbid in the last two months.

This is reportedly reducing pressure to the water treatment plant in the area with an imminent decrease in water distribution to various homes across the municipality.

The Oda River flowing to Obuasi and its environs has also seen astronomical increases in turbidity.

Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana Water Limited, Dr. Hanson Mensah-Akutteh is distraught over the recent development.

“Galamsey I don’t know if it has come to stay. For the past two months, it has even worsened. The Odaso river flowing to Obuasi is registering 18,000 NTU of turbidity from an initial 8,000 NTU within the last two months. The Owerri river in Konongo has also moved from 5,000 NTU to 12,000 NTU. As we speak the river has stopped flowing,” he said.

He continued: “That river is no more functional. If it continues for the long time, the people of Konongo may not even have water at all. Because there’s not even a single drop of water in the river to extract for treatment”.

The situation continues to impact the cost of production.

The water company is adopting what managers describe as post-predictive measures to sustain high cost of production.

Increasing foreign exchange rates, customer indebtedness and the devastating effects of illegal mining are driving the high cost of water production in the region.

But to survive the situation, the water distribution company says it has adopted purchasing strategies that help them procure materials like water treating chemicals to beat down the high exchange rates.

“The power cost has risen from 0.8 million cedis, in June to December, to about 1.5 million cedis per metre cube. The chemical cost has also increased from 0.2 million to about 1.3 million cedis within the same period,” he said.

Meanwhile, the water distribution company is servicing its lines to ensure adequate water flow during the festive season.

According to JoyNews‘ Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe, fence walls at the company’s guest house and residences for top management have been destroyed, and five others are expected to be demolished.

The water distributor in the region is threatening to shut down operations if the issue is not resolved and the vandalized properties fixed within 48 hours.

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This action is part of a larger effort by the GWCL to collect money owed by clients.

Dr. Clifford Braimah, the GWCL’s Managing Director, speaking to journalists said, “There was a new tariff in September 2022 and Printex was re-categorised because they have two product lines. One line is for printing the fabric and the second one is for the drinks – frutelli and kalyppo.

“And the unit rate went higher, so they were disputing why we put them on a higher rate instead of a lower rate. For us, we are looking at balancing and making sure that we are able to generate revenue for our operations. We have agreed to them paying 50%, which they have done”.

In a related development, GWCL also recovered GH¢38,000 from Kata Company Limited out of the GH¢220,000 debt the alcoholic beverage business owes it.

This forms part of an ongoing revenue mobilisation exercise by the GWCL to retrieve monies owed by customers, specifically, industries in the Nungua District.

The Managing Director of GWCL, Ing. Dr Clifford Braimah said customers need to cooperate with the team as they undertake this important exercise in an effort to collect and mobilise the much-needed revenue to improve water supply services in the country.

“Some of the customers are tough and will give all the reasons they shouldn’t pay. Customers should try and cooperate with us,” he appealed.

GWCL also disconnected water supply of a beverage factory known as U-Fresh Company Limited at Spintex in Accra over non-payment of bills worth GH¢163000.

This move forms part of an ongoing revenue mobilisation exercise by the GWCL to retrieve monies owed by customers specifically industries in the Nungua district.

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“This was necessitated as a result of the broadening of the tariff consultation process to solicit for more independent views; ensure independent verification of submitted projects and have deeper consultations with the key stakeholders,” a statement dated June 27 explained.

The PURC had set July 1 for the 2022-2027 multi-year major tariff announcement, after receiving and interrogating proposals from power distribution companies.

Aside from the entities, there have been public hearings where members of the general public voiced their concerns over the demand for utility increment by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), among others.

“The above has led to the need for more time for further reviews of the tariff proposals submitted by the utility service providers and to incorporate the findings of the regulatory audit and views of all stakeholders across the country,” the statement added.

Proposals from ECG and GWCL

The Electricity Company of Ghana is demanding a 148% increase in tariff.

A proposal from the power distributor, submitted to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), wants the adjustment to cover the period 2019 and 2022.

It also proposed an average increase of 7.6% in tariff over the next four years to cover Distribution Service Charges (DSC).

On its part, the Ghana Water Company Limited is demanding a 334% increase in tariff.

The GWCL in its proposal said over the years, the approved tariffs have not been fully cost-reflective.

These proposals have generated widespread conversation, with many Ghanaians expressing their disapproval of same.

Following the concerns raised, GWCL stated that should the general public refuse to support the company’s drive to get customers to pay realistic tariffs it may have to halt operations in the future.

According to the Communications Manager, Stanley Martey, the company can no longer continue to struggle to stay afloat using the meagre revenue it generates, hence the need for higher tariffs.

“The Commission wishes to assure all stakeholders of its commitment to ensuring a transparent, fair and all-inclusive process in determining the multi-year tariff,” the PURC noted.

Meanwhile, the Commission has denied claims by the Minority in Parliament that government is pressuring PURC to approve tariff proposals of the Electricity Company of Ghana.

The Director of Research and Corporate Affairs, Dr Eric Obutey, says the outfit is not under any pressure to approve tariffs.

Engineer Emmanuel Johnson, the Chief Manager in-charge of Accra East Region, disclosed this in an interview with Adom News, following a fire incident at the Makola market.

The Accra Mayor, Mohammed Adjei Sowa, on the day of the incident, said fire fighters had to travel to Circe, Kaneshie and other parts of the capital in search of water.

They explained the hydrants within the central business district were non-functional.

But, according to Mr Johnson, there are about 70 hydrants out of which 11 are within the Accra Central Business District, hence, GNFS cannot make claims of lack of water in times of crisis.

In view of this, he has urged the fire service to stop shifting blame for its inability to douse the Makola market fire on time.

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“GWCL as a company cannot be dragged into the Makola market fire brouhaha because there are enough water hydrants at the central business district. So they must accept responsibility for failing to quench the Makola Fire,” he said.

According to the GWCL, this is due to some maintenance works on-going at the Kpong Water Treatment Plant.

GWCL in a statement revealed some of the areas to be affected as “Tema Industrial, Communities 2-12, Community 25, Gulf City, Saki, Bediako, parts of VRA, Prampram, Sebrepor, Michelle Camp, Gbetseli and Asutsare.”

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Others include “Mataheko, Afienya, Ashaiman Timber market, Tulaku, Ashaiman Bethlehem, East Legon, Ajirigano, La, Labone, Teshie, Nungua and Spintex.”

The GWCL urged customers to store enough water ahead of the interruption as supply will be restored as soon as the maintenance work is completed.