About GH¢6 million has been invested in replacing weak and perforated sections of Ghana Water Limited’s (GWL) transmission lines between Kpong and Tema. This forms part of efforts to improve water supply to communities in the Greater Accra Region.

Speaking to the media, Ghana Water Limited’s Communications Manager, Stanley Martey, said between 40 and 50 per cent of the water pumped from Kpong was lost before reaching the Tema booster station.

He added, "In recent times, I think about a month ago, we announced to the public that we have identified some problems along our transmission mains from Kpong to Tema. When we pump the water from Kpong, we don't get the exact volumes at Tema, at our Tema booster station. For instance, you pump, and by the time it gets to the booster station, we've lost 40 to 50 per cent".

The revelation comes at a time when several communities in the Greater Accra Region, particularly areas around Tema and Ashaiman, are experiencing water crisis.

However, the Communications Manager has assured that the company is working to resolve the situation.

“I want to assure the public that we wouldn't sit aloof and do nothing about the situation. As I speak, we are constantly on the ground troubleshooting to ensure that we identify the challenges and have them solved,” he said.

Meanwhile, GWL has expressed concern over its inability to operate effectively due to GH¢2 billion in arrears owed by consumers. Managing Director Adam Mutawakilu disclosed this during the inauguration of the Revenue Enhancement Teams on Wednesday, February 4.

According to Mutawakilu, these arrears are largely the result of illegal connections, meter bypassing, billing errors, and outright water theft by certain customers. He also revealed that of the 220 million gallons of water produced nationwide daily, only 106 million gallons are accounted for.

The Managing Director further explained that nearly a third of the unaccounted-for water is being lost due to technical issues, including aged pipes and problems within the transmission and distribution network.

“Our assessment over the period indicates that about 32% of the non-revenue water relates to technical losses due to aged pipes and transmission and distribution lines. About 78%, however, results from illegal connections, meter bypassing, billing anomalies, and outright water theft,” the company stated.

Between August and December 2025, Ghana lost over GH¢5 million to illegal water connections. The GWL uncovered an alarming water theft, particularly in urban cities like Accra, which consumes the most of the water produced by the nation’s water supply company, following an intense operation.

ling water by connecting illegally to the water system, and some businesses that were being charged as domestic entities instead of commercial users.

Also, some consumers have installed bypasses, i.e., setups or pipes that avoid the water meter, resulting in significant revenue losses for the utility company.

According to the Managing Director, GWL has so far recovered a little over GH¢1.3 million from the illegal connections identified between August and December. He added that the company’s legal department has begun processes to prosecute offenders, warning that culprits will be taken to court to deter future violations.

“…and we have recovered a little over GH¢1.3 million. The legal department is pursuing the cases in court,” he added.In an intensified effort, the MD noted that GWL has engaged the National Security to triple the task force team, from 3-12 to expedite the detection and clamping down on the theft“With the work of the three taskforce teams, non-revenue water dropped from 52 per cent in January to 49.4 % by November. That is encouraging, so we have engaged National Security to expand the teams to 12.

In a related development, late last year, GWL in the Eastern Region arranged for 15 defaulting customers to appear in court in a few days.

This formed part of the company’s large-scale legal campaign to recover more than GHC32 million owed by long-term defaulters. The debt, the nation’s water supply insists, undermines the effectiveness of their operations and improves water service delivery.

Ing. Paul C. Akpanya, Regional Chief Manager of Ghana Water Ltd. (Eastern Region), made this statement on Tuesday, December 9, in Koforidua, Eastern Region, during the launch of GWCL’s large-scale legal campaign to recover over GHC32 million owed by long-term defaulters.

According to him, the 15 defaulters fell under Phase One of the campaign, with more rigorous and lawful measures expected to be adopted in the coming days to retrieve the debts.

“We will go the extra mile within the remit of the law to recover every arrear owed the company. This is essential for sustaining our operations and improving service delivery to the public,” he said.

GWL’s legal team said more names will be added as the campaign intensifies, targeting customers who have ignored repeated reminders, accumulated long-term arrears, or continued to refuse payment even after disconnection.

The action also covers individuals and businesses that have opted to rely on alternative water sources, such as boreholes and wells, without settling their outstanding bills.

The first batch of cases filed includes a mix of commercial and residential customers:Jilcom (Suhum Roundabout Shell Station), Petroleum & Construction Ltd., Constance Baafi, Ebenezer Larbi Opare, Yomboi EA Adu, Dora James Okyere, KAMA Group of Companies (Regional Director of Health), Paulina Donkor, Richard Boadu, Felicia Okyere Darko, F. A. Mpare, Taylor Posiah & Oduro, Patrick Ernest Obeng, Kwame.

This is not the first time Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has threatened or taken legal action against defaulters. The company has a history of warning customers and even announcing plans to prosecute defaulters as far back as 2023 and 2024, before the current campaign this December 2025.

In April 2023, GWCL issued a public warning that it will prosecute defaulting consumers who fail to settle their debts. The company stated that outstanding arrears were undermining its operations and that legal action was inevitable if payments were not made.

Fast forward exactly a year later, 2024, the water supplier issued another warning announcing that it would publish the names of defaulting customers by the end of May 2024 if they failed to pay. Officials stressed that if this measure failed, they would not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings against debtors.

Meanwhile, GWCL’s naming approach is similar to that of BoG’s in dealing with loan defaulters.