Western Region customers owe GWL over GHS23m

Accra, Ghana - October, 29, 2024 - The Ghana Water Company Limited is grappling with a staggering debt of over GHS 23 million in the Western Region alone, with the nationwide total exceeding GHS 800 million.

This significant debt is severely impacting the company's ability to maintain a continuous water supply to residents.

Nana Yaw Barima Barnie, Acting Chief Manager of Ghana Water Company Limited in the Western Region, revealed the dire situation to Citi News in Takoradi on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

The company's financial struggles stem from customers' non-payment of bills, which affects its operational strength.

To address this issue, the Ghana Water Company is launching a revenue mobilization campaign aimed at recovering the outstanding GHS 23 million.

“Ghana Water Company at the moment is not a subverted organisation and so what we need to do in our day-to-day operations, we need to depend on the bills our customers pay us. Thus, we buy chemicals in foreign currencies, pipes, fuel our vehicles, maintain equipment breakdowns which happen frequently, pay salaries of staff and a lot more.

“All these require a lot of money, and that money comes from the bills customers pay. So if you have a customer who pays you just GHS300 out of a bill of GHS,1000, it means you’re not in good business,” he noted.

“We are moving from house to house to collect bills that people owe us from now till December end. If we come to your house, we expect that you pay us what you owe us. It is not in our interest to disconnect a customer, so we want customers to pay their bills even before we get there,” he added.

Impact on Operations

The non-payment of bills affects the company's ability to import essential inputs for water treatment, including chemicals, pipes, and fuel for vehicles.

Additionally, the company faces frequent equipment breakdowns and staff salary payments.

Disconnection of Defaulters

To recover the debts, the Ghana Water Company will embark on an intensive revenue mobilization drive, which includes disconnections for defaulter.The company urges customers to pay their bills before the disconnection exercise begins.

Currently, the Western Region has a water supply coverage of about 44%, with 31,357 customers.The region operates eight water supply systems in six Metropolitan and District Assemblies.

Source: Lead News Online