The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has launched a debt recovery campaign to reclaim a significant GH¢45.5 million in unpaid water bills owed by domestic customers in the Northern and Savannah regions.
This initiative, spanning from November 1 to December 31, 2024, aims to address the financial shortfall caused by non-payment, which GWCL says has become a critical issue.
Stephen Amihere Mensah, Northern Area Manager for GWCL, revealed that this debt is exclusive to domestic customers, as the government has cleared all its arrears with the water company.
Mensah highlighted that of the total debt, over GH¢7 million is attributed to standpipes, which typically operate on a cash-and-carry basis. “What is even striking is that standpipes, which are supposed to be cash and carry, owe us over GH¢7 million,” he explained.
The arrears have accumulated despite the assumption that standpipe users would pay immediately for water accessed through these communal taps.
Mensah emphasized the pressing need for the recovery operation, noting that non-payment by residential customers has placed strain on GWCL’s ability to meet its financial obligations to suppliers.
Speaking on the campaign’s urgency, Mensah underscored that GWCL could face operational challenges if the debt remains unresolved.
“If we don’t organize ourselves to collect our money, we will not be able to pay our suppliers,” he stated, emphasizing the company’s reliance on timely customer payments to sustain water supply services.
The recovery campaign will include a combination of outreach and enforcement measures, aimed at encouraging defaulting customers to settle their debts promptly.
