Adam Mutawakilu announces nationwide replacement of ageing water infrastructure

The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Adam Mutawakilu, has unveiled a comprehensive programme to modernize the country's water distribution system by replacing ageing pumps and pipelines. Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on October 13, Mutawakilu explained that the initiative is designed to stabilize the current water supply and significantly reduce technical losses that have long plagued the utility provider. The upgrade focuses on improving the efficiency of existing infrastructure to ensure more reliable service for consumers across the country. The infrastructure overhaul will target critical facilities, including the Kpong Water Treatment Plant in the Eastern Region, alongside deteriorating pipelines in areas such as Abetifi and its surrounding communities. This decision to prioritize replacements over expansion follows a policy shift in August, when GWL officially halted new pipeline extensions. Mutawakilu noted that continuing to extend the network while the existing system is failing would be counterproductive, as unresolved supply challenges would only be compounded by adding more pressure to a fragile grid. To facilitate the rollout, GWL has instructed all regional offices to submit detailed inventories of old and damaged pipelines by the end of October. Once these lists are compiled, they will undergo a thorough review process to determine project allocations, which will then be presented to the GWL board for final approval. The Managing Director emphasized that this strategic pivot is necessary to ensure that current customers receive the service they pay for before the utility attempts to reach new settlements. By focusing on the integrity of the existing network, GWL aims to curb non-revenue water, which is water produced but lost through leaks in old pipes before it reaches customers. This move reflects a broader effort within the utility sector to address the maintenance backlog and improve the operational efficiency of Ghana's primary water distribution infrastructure.