Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited, Adam Mutawakilu, has revealed that replacing Ghana’s ageing water transmission pipelines would cost the utility over 3.5 billion Ghana cedis( US$356 million), a sum far beyond the company’s current financial capacity.
Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show, Mr Mutawakilu said most of the country’s major transmission lines are weak, old, and operating below capacity, posing a serious challenge to water distribution.
“Most of this transmission capacity utilisation is low. Most of the transmission lines are weak and need to be replaced, and that is a huge cost,” he said.
“We are talking about 356 million dollars to replace the old pipes and put in new pipes — that’s about 3, more than 3.5 billion Ghana cedis.”
The GWCL boss explained that the company’s annual revenue falls far short of what is required for such a massive overhaul.
“For example, we make almost 1.8 billion cedis — that’s about 100 to 150 million dollars for the whole year. This is the whole amount, not taking salaries or maintenance into account,” he added. “So, if you take it, you realise that we are not in good shape.”
His comments come against the backdrop of recurring water shortages in Accra and parts of Greater Accra, which have prompted public outcry and political debate over infrastructure planning and investment.
Mr Mutawakilu said the combination of ageing plants, deteriorating pipelines, and limited revenue has left the utility struggling to meet the rising water demand of Ghana’s growing population.
“The problem is not just the number of plants; it’s the transmission lines connecting them,” he noted. “Without replacing these old pipelines, a lot of water is lost, and supply remains inconsistent, especially in urban areas.”
The Ghana Water Limited Managing Director urged policymakers to prioritise capital projects that strengthen both water production and distribution, warning that delays could worsen service interruptions and public dissatisfaction.
“Water is essential for life and development,” he said. “We must match infrastructure investment with our population growth, or these challenges will continue to escalate.”
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com