Ghana Water Company Limited faces high water losses and aging infrastructure

Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is facing significant revenue and infrastructure challenges, with Managing Director Adam Mutawakilu reporting that while 18.5 million people rely on the utility, only about one million are registered paying customers. This mismatch is partly due to single accounts covering multiple tenants and a high rate of illegal connections, which account for 78% of the company’s non-revenue water losses.

Currently, 47.6% of the company’s daily output—approximately 219 million gallons—does not generate revenue. Mutawakilu attributed these losses to both billing gaps and deteriorating infrastructure, noting that some pipelines, particularly in the Weija and Accra areas, date back to the 1960s. These aging metallic pipes often rupture under pressure, leading to further leakages.

Since March 2026, GWCL has prioritized replacing obsolete pipelines over expanding the network. This strategy has led to a gradual reduction in non-revenue water, which dropped from 52.2% in December 2024 to 47.6% by June 2026.