The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Adam Mutawakilu, has called for the urgent replacement of the country’s ageing water transmission pipelines.
According to him, replacing the outdated infrastructure would cost more than GH₵3.5 billion (approximately US$356 million) — an amount far beyond the company’s current financial capacity.
Mr Mutawakilu disclosed this during an appearance on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show. He explained that the transmission lines are old, weak, and operating well below capacity, posing a major challenge to effective water distribution across the country.
He stressed that the problem extends beyond water treatment plants themselves. “The ageing infrastructure connecting them is the critical issue,” he said, adding that without replacing the old pipelines, significant volumes of water continue to be lost, resulting in inconsistent supply — particularly in urban areas.
“Most of the transmission capacity utilisation is low. The transmission lines are weak and need to be replaced,” Mr Mutawakilu stated. “We are talking about US$356 million to replace the old pipelines and install new ones — that’s more than GH₵3.5 billion.”
The GWL Managing Director appealed to policymakers to prioritise capital investment in both water production and distribution infrastructure. He warned that further delays could lead to worsening service disruptions and growing public discontent.
“Water is essential for life and development. We must match infrastructure investment with our population growth; otherwise, these challenges will continue to escalate,” he emphasised.