The Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has unveiled a 24-month catchment recovery plan aimed at improving water production and distribution nationwide, even as it struggles with silted intake points, rising turbidity levels, and limited treatment capacity in parts of the country.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (21 October), the Director of Public Relations at GWL, Stanley Martey, said the plan forms part of a long-term strategy to ensure consistent water supply and protect raw water sources ahead of the next dry season.
“We have done all due diligence in terms of feasibility studies and budgeting. If funding comes in now, within 24 months we should be able to complete all the projects under the recovery plan,” Martey said.
Dredging and desilting crucial to water stability
Martey explained that several treatment plants, including those at Kpong, and Mampong, are currently grappling with heavy silt deposits at their intake points, a situation that prevents efficient pumping despite visible improvements in surface water levels.
“Although we see an improvement in surface water stability, our extraction pumps are submerged in silt. We are lifting the pumps higher to draw less turbid water, but the lasting solution is to dredge and desilt these intake points,” he noted.
The company, he said, has identified eight major treatment plants that require urgent dredging but lacks the financial resources to carry out the exercise.
He revealed that dredging alone at the Mampong site costs over $3.8 million, while other plants could require as much as $14 million.
“We are calling on Corporate Ghana—companies like Zoomlion, GMPC, BOST, and others—to support us with funds, equipment, and technical expertise. If we rely solely on our internal resources, we might have to borrow, which could lead to tariff increases, and we want to avoid that,” Martey added.
Accra’s main challenge is capacity, not raw water shortage
Martey clarified that the water challenges in Accra are primarily due to limited treatment capacity rather than the availability of raw water.
“The Volta River and Densu River provide enough water all year round. The problem is that our treatment plants can only produce up to their maximum capacity, which is insufficient for Accra’s growing population,” he explained.
To manage this shortfall, GWL continues to ration water, ensuring most households within the Greater Accra Metropolis receive water three to five days a week.
Expansion plans underway
He disclosed that plans are advanced to expand the Kpong and Weija water treatment plants to close the gap between supply and demand, in line with government’s agenda to achieve 100% access to potable water by 2030.
“Once the phase two of the Kpong project is completed, we will be able to serve areas like Adenta, Sarbotu, Oyarefa, and Kasoa more efficiently,” he said.
However, Martey declined to give specific timelines, explaining that such large-scale infrastructure projects require extensive due diligence and funding approval before commencement.
No need for state of emergency
Responding to growing public calls for a state of emergency over Ghana’s water challenges, Martey said such a move is unnecessary, as the company is already implementing practical solutions to stabilize the situation.
“Declaring a state of emergency won’t fix the problem. The real issue is funding and coordination. With the recovery plan and stakeholder collaboration, we can address the problem sustainably,” he emphasized.
Appeal for collaboration
Martey called for closer collaboration between local assemblies, traditional authorities, and regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to safeguard water bodies against pollution and encroachment.
“We all have a role to play. Protecting our water sources is not just the duty of Ghana Water Company—it requires collective effort from government agencies, communities, and the private sector,” he said.
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