Resetting Ghana Water Company Limited: A Call for Comprehensive Reforms

GWCL

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has become a significant liability, consistently making losses instead of profits. Many Ghanaians, including myself, have experienced dry pipes for weeks, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive reset of the company. It is time to address the incompetence within management and engineering staff, introduce a standard smart metering system, and stimulate local manufacturing to create jobs and boost economic activities. This article provides an analysis of the current challenges facing GWCL, presents facts and figures, and offers recommendations for President Mahama's administration to restructure the company and meet international clean water delivery standards.

Current Challenges Facing GWCL

1. Financial Losses:

- Revenue Loss: GWCL has disclosed that 40% of water generated for use cannot be accounted for, primarily due to leakages, bursts, and illegal connections².

- Operational Inefficiencies: The company has struggled with operational inefficiencies, leading to significant financial losses and an inability to provide reliable water services².

2. Illegal Connections and Theft:

- Illegal Connections: Illegal water connections and underpayment of water bills are depriving GWCL of revenue and affecting its ability to provide safe and reliable water³.

- Water Meter Theft: The theft of water meters, often supported by staff, has exacerbated the financial losses faced by the company¹.

3. Incompetent Management and Engineering:

- Lack of Accountability: Incompetent managers and engineers have contributed to the company's poor performance, with little accountability for the ongoing issues².

- Outdated Infrastructure: The aging and poorly maintained infrastructure has led to frequent breakdowns and water shortages².

Facts and Figures

1. Revenue Loss: GWCL loses approximately 40% of its revenue due to leakages, bursts, and illegal connections².

2. Illegal Connections: In the Brong Ahafo Region, over 70% of customers either do not pay their water bills or have illegal connections³.

3. Water Meter Theft: The theft of water meters is rampant, with scrap dealers often stealing meters for their brass components¹.

Recommendations for President Mahama's Administration

1. Restructure Management and Engineering:

- Accountability Measures: Implement strict accountability measures to ensure that managers and engineers are held responsible for their performance.

- Capacity Building: Invest in training and capacity-building programs to enhance the skills and competencies of GWCL staff.

2. Introduce Smart Metering System:

- Local Manufacturing: Develop a standard smart metering system to be manufactured locally, creating jobs and stimulating economic activities.

- Real-time Monitoring: Implement smart meters to enable real-time monitoring of water usage and reduce illegal connections and theft.

3. Enhance Financial Management:

- Revenue Collection: Strengthen revenue collection mechanisms to ensure that all customers pay their water bills.

- Cost Reduction: Implement cost-reduction strategies to minimize operational inefficiencies and financial losses.

4. Upgrade Infrastructure:

- Modernization: Invest in modernizing the water supply infrastructure to reduce leakages and bursts.

- Maintenance: Establish a robust maintenance program to ensure the longevity and reliability of the water supply system.

5. Promote Transparency and Accountability:

- Public Disclosure: Regularly publish financial reports and project updates to keep the public informed.

- Independent Audits: Conduct regular independent audits of GWCL's operations to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Ghana Water Company Limited is in dire need of comprehensive reforms to address its financial losses, illegal connections, and management inefficiencies. By restructuring management, introducing a smart metering system, enhancing financial management, upgrading infrastructure, and promoting transparency, President Mahama's administration can reset GWCL and ensure that it meets international clean water delivery standards. These reforms will not only improve water services but also create jobs and stimulate economic activities, contributing to the overall development of Ghana.

#Retired Senior Citizen

Teshie-Nungua

Reference Sources:

• ¹: [Metro TV Online] (https://metrotvonline.com/water-metre-theft-and-illegal-connections-causing-huge-financial-losses-gwcl/)
• ²: [MyJoyOnline] (https://www.myjoyonline.com/leakages-burst-and-illegal-water-connections-account-for-40-of-revenue-loss-gwcl/)
• ³: [Ghana Sentinel] (https://ghanasentinel.com/2023/10/25/water-crisis-ghana-illegal-connections-underpayment/)

What do you think about these recommendations? Do you have any additional points you'd like to include? Kindly express yourself in the comments section.