By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Managing Director (MD) of Ghana’s urban water distribution company, Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, has hinted that his outfit’s inability to expand services and upgrade infrastructure is due to some GH¢2 billion in customer arrears.
According to him, the huge arrears are hampering GWL’s cash flow, limiting the company’s planned expansion of services and infrastructure upgrade programs.
He explained that although the company supplied about 220 million gallons of water daily nationwide, only 106 million gallons are accounted for, leaving 114 million gallons unaccounted for.
In the Accra region, the company said daily demand stands at 210 million gallons, but there is currently a shortfall of 73 million gallons. This situation is largely attributed to customer arrears and losses from unaccounted-for water.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Revenue Enhancement Teams, an initiative aimed at strengthening revenue mobilisation and improving service delivery, the Managing Director of GWL noted that the losses stem from both technical and commercial challenges.
“Our assessment over the period indicates that about 32 per cent of the non-revenue water relates to technical losses due to aged pipes and transmission and distribution lines. However, about 78 per cent results from illegal connections, meter bypassing, billing anomalies, and outright water theft,” Mr. Mutawakilu reiterated.
