The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Dr. Freda Prempeh, has emphasized the detrimental impact of illegal water connections and tampering with the meters of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) on the nation’s economy.
Speaking at the “Accounting to Our Customers” (ATC 2023) stakeholders meeting in Accra, Dr. Prempeh, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Tano North constituency in the Ahafo Region, urged vigilance against such activities and pledged to prosecute the culprits.
She revealed that these illegal activities have been causing substantial economic losses, which not only affect the financial health of the nation but also hinder the GWCL’s efforts to provide clean and safe water to its customers.
Dr. Prempeh addressed the additional challenges faced by GWCL, including illegal mining and sand mining, which pollute water bodies, thus requiring the company to allocate significant funds for water treatment.
She called upon various stakeholders, including community leaders, religious bodies, and the media, to support the nationwide campaign against illegal mining and sand winning, emphasizing the need to protect water bodies and people’s livelihoods simultaneously.
Dr. Prempeh also commended the GWCL’s efforts and innovation in achieving company growth and development, highlighting the company’s progress in modernizing its commercial business operations and increasing electronic payments, with water revenues projected to surge by 65 percent by the end of 2023.
