Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has unveiled plans to deepen its collaboration with security services and the judiciary in a bid to clamp down on illegal water connections and other practices that are draining the company’s revenue.
The announcement was made at a high-level stakeholder meeting held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, where the Acting Managing Director of GWL, Adam Mutawakilu, identified commercial water losses as one of the utility’s most critical challenges.
“Commercial water losses remain one of the most urgent issues confronting Ghana Water Limited today. These losses, caused by unlawful connections, meter bypassing, faulty billing, and failure to pay for water usage, have a severe impact on our income,” Mr. Mutawakilu stated.
He stressed that the problem not only undermines the company’s financial stability but also restricts its ability to extend water infrastructure to underserved areas, rehabilitate ageing pipelines, and guarantee a steady supply of safe and affordable water nationwide.
Mr. Mutawakilu further explained that the situation is straining the company’s resources and making it increasingly difficult to sustain operations.
“Since I took office in February 2025, we have been confronted with a tough environment—huge debts on electricity and chemicals, rising operational expenses, persistent equipment procurement needs, and a growing wage bill, all worsened by low revenue,” he noted.
To address the issue, he revealed that in July 2025, revenue improvement teams were set up. Despite their short time in operation, these teams have already identified key actors, hotspots, and patterns of commercial losses across GWL’s systems, providing a clearer understanding of the problem and how to respond effectively.
As part of the new measures, GWL will incorporate agreed strategies into its operations, working hand-in-hand with the judiciary and law enforcement to strictly enforce anti-water theft laws.
“Strengthening cooperation with law enforcement, regulators, and the judiciary to curb water theft, while ensuring transparency and accountability in tackling illegal connections and billing anomalies, are crucial steps forward,” Mr. Mutawakilu emphasized.
He added that reducing water losses will enable the company to expand access to potable water in line with Sustainable Development Goal 6 and the government’s Water for All initiative, while also boosting customer satisfaction and safeguarding the long-term sustainability of supply systems.
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