Ghana Water Limited Launches Enforcement Measures to Tackle Unauthorized Water Sales
Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has declared a national crackdown on illegal water connections and unauthorized sales, as the company moves to protect water distribution systems and prevent commercial misuse. Effective immediately, the use of fire hydrants—particularly by water tankers—is banned across the country.
This decisive action was announced by GWL Managing Director, Adam Mutawakilu, during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, August 5.
“We have banned the use of fire hydrants, and the team is assessing those who sell water to tankers commercially,” he disclosed.
Illegal Connections on the Rise
According to Mr. Mutawakilu, internal assessments have revealed alarming levels of hydrant abuse and illegal connections—many linked to water tanker operations sourcing from Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) hydrants.
Read Also: Transport fares to go up 20% effective August 8th
“Looking at the trend it is going, if we realise that out of 10 people, seven have illegally connected [to the hydrant], we will be forced to suspend,” he added.
Special Task Force Deployed Nationwide
As part of the operation, a dedicated GWL task force began work on Tuesday, August 5, inspecting all known commercial water points and hydrant connections.
“The team started yesterday, and we are analysing the data. By the end of the month, management will be able to put an end to this,” Mr. Mutawakilu said.
The task force is expected to identify and prosecute offenders, disconnect illegal setups, and assess risks to the water grid.
Possible Suspension of Tanker Services
Should the situation fail to improve, GWL may move to suspend the services of private and commercial water tankers operating in high-risk areas. The goal, Mr. Mutawakilu emphasized, is to ensure that legitimate consumers, especially domestic users, are not deprived of access to water.
