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Water Affordability at Risk: ISODEC and AWJN Reject GWCL's Tariff Proposal

 The Integrated Social Development Center (ISODEC) and the Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) have expressed deep concern over the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) proposal to increase water tariffs by 280%. The organizations attribute the proposed hike to the rising cost of water treatment due to the impact of illegal mining (galamsey) and other sources of pollution.

Galamsey must be treated as a national security emergency requiring decisive government intervention. Citizens cannot be made to pay for the state’s failure to curb an existential threat to our rivers and ecosystems."

The organizations highlighted several key concerns, including GWCL’s non-revenue water, which has increased from 39.1% in 2020 to 49.9% in 2024, far above international benchmarks. The Teshie Desalination Plant contract is also draining GWCL’s finances, with the company paying $1.4 million monthly capacity charge and GHS 3 million in electricity bills.

GWCL’s comparison of its tariffs with sachet water, bottled water, and tanker service prices is misleading, given its failure to provide reliable and accessible tap water. The organizations recommend that the government and PURC assist GWCL in reducing non-revenue water rates, renegotiate the Teshie Desalination contract, establish a Water Solidarity Fund, increase oversight in procurement processes, and prioritize citizens’ right to water.

The organizations urge the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to reject GWCL’s tariff request and address the structural issues undermining water service delivery in Ghana.

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