By Godfred Anku Kaali
Ghana Water Limited has warned that illegal mining is posing a major threat to water production across the country. The concern was raised during a public hearing on proposed tariff adjustments by utility providers, held in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
The hearing, organised by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to review the 2025–2030 Multi-Year Tariff Proposals by utility providers, was met with strong objections from residents. They urged utility companies to curb theft and inefficiencies in order to achieve their expected revenues.
The stakeholder engagement forms part of a nationwide series of consultations by the PURC to gather public input on proposed tariff adjustments, in line with its mandate under Act 538 to review tariffs and ensure fairness for both service providers and consumers.
The discussions focused on key issues, including the impact of tariff adjustments on workers and households, the need for reliable and affordable power and water, and citizen welfare in utility reforms.
Officials from the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) noted that shortfalls in revenue mobilisation, along with investments in new projects and technologies to improve efficiency and expand generation capacity, have necessitated the proposed tariff adjustments.
The General Secretary of the PURC, Dr. Shafic Suleman, said the tariff review process seeks to ensure that utility costs reflect economic realities while considering social concerns. He pledged the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that pricing remains fair, transparent, and sustainable.
“The tariff review process is an opportunity for us to listen to Ghanaians and ensure that the electricity and water that sustain our communities and drive our industries are priced in a way that balances economic realities with social considerations,” he said.
The Chief Manager for Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at Ghana Water Limited, Mr. Michael Tawiah Klutse, revealed that illegal mining is the main challenge affecting water production, with only two of the company’s operational regions remaining unaffected by galamsey.
“The main issue affecting our production is the pollution of water bodies. Only two regions in our operational areas are not affected, and the high turbidity levels are driving up treatment costs and damaging our equipment,” he explained.
The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng, noted that effective tariff pricing requires understanding what consumers can afford and are willing to pay.
“Utility providers must recover legitimate costs to maintain services. The key to achieving this lies in understanding what consumers can afford and are willing to pay,” he said.
Some participants lamented that the high cost of living already consumes much of their income and warned that any tariff increase would worsen their economic situation. They cautioned that the proposed adjustments could cripple their businesses and appealed for significant reductions to make tariffs more manageable.
The public hearing will continue in other regions to ensure broad stakeholder participation in the tariff review process.
