Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has significantly intensified its repair efforts on aging transmission pipelines supplying water from the Kpong Water Treatment Plant, a move aimed at drastically reducing substantial water losses affecting residents in Tema and parts of Accra East. This intervention is a critical component of the company’s strategy to lower non-revenue water levels, enhance operational efficiency, and stabilize water provision to densely populated urban areas.
Addressing Decades of Deterioration
The urgency behind these repairs stems from a stark revelation by GWL’s new management: over half of the water produced is lost before reaching consumers. Investigations following the management’s assumption of office identified water theft and extensive leakages on major transmission lines as the primary culprits behind the nation’s high non-revenue water figures. The company’s 2024 financial statement indicated a staggering 52.2% non-revenue water rate, meaning more than half of produced water could not be accounted for due to these issues.
Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, Managing Director of GWL, highlighted during an inspection visit that the situation is particularly acute in the Tema and Accra West regions. Here, a 21-inch steel transmission line, over 70 years old, transporting treated water from Kpong, exhibits widespread leakages. This aging infrastructure has severely compromised water delivery, with Mr. Mutawakilu estimating that approximately 40% of the water produced at Kpong is lost through leaks before it even reaches Tema.
Strategic Repair and Investment
The current repair initiative involves the fabrication and replacement of damaged sections of both 21-inch and 42-inch transmission pipes. These crucial fabrication works are being undertaken at GWL’s Central Workshop, serving as the company’s engineering and maintenance hub. This facility is equipped for pipe rolling, specialized fitting fabrication, pump refurbishment, and emergency maintenance.
To date, GWL has allocated approximately GH₵5 million towards these fabrication efforts, with further funding anticipated to expedite the repairs. Mr. Mutawakilu expressed confidence that the critical repair works will be completed within the next three months, aiming to restore pipeline integrity and substantially reduce water losses. The company is committed to minimizing non-revenue water, a goal that will also support the upcoming replacement of all five pumps at the Kpong Water Treatment Plant later this year.
The increased water pressure expected from the new pumps necessitates robust transmission pipelines. GWL acknowledges that financial constraints prevent an immediate overhaul of the entire aging network. Therefore, the company is prioritizing the most vulnerable sections while concurrently conducting continuous repairs on other leaking portions. The Central Workshop is currently fabricating 180 meters of 21-inch pipes and 162 meters of 42-inch pipes for this critical replacement phase.
Combating Water Theft
Beyond the physical infrastructure challenges, GWL is actively pursuing a nationwide crackdown on illegal water connections and meter bypasses. The establishment of a Revenue Enhancement Team in August 2025 has been instrumental in this fight. Initially comprising three units, the team expanded to ten in January of this year and has already uncovered nearly 400 illegal connections in Accra alone.
Supported by National Security, these operations have yielded significant results, recovering approximately GH₵3.7 million from an estimated GH₵16 million in accrued liabilities from illegal users. Customers found to be involved in water theft face the choice of settling their outstanding bills or confronting disconnection and potential prosecution. Mr. Mutawakilu emphasized that these measures are integral to GWL’s commitment to improving potable water delivery under the Government’s reset agenda, reaffirming the company’s focus on its core mandate of providing reliable urban water supply.
Looking Ahead
The success of these intensified repair efforts and the crackdown on water theft will be crucial in stabilizing water supply to the growing populations of Tema and Accra West. Observers will be watching closely to see if GWL can meet its three-month target for critical repairs and if the reduction in non-revenue water can be sustained, thereby improving overall service delivery and revenue collection. The integration of the new pumps at Kpong and the integrity of the upgraded transmission lines will be a key factor to monitor in the coming months as GWL strives to meet the increasing water demands of Ghana’s major urban centers.
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