100 million dollars needed to improve water system

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) would require 100 million dollars annually in the next five years to bring the water system to the level that would meet the needs of people in the country, Mr Jonathan Nii Ahele Nunoo, Acting Managing Director of the company, has announced.

He said it is for this reason that private sector participation has become necessary.

Mr Nunoo made this known when he paid courtesy calls on Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister and Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive at their offices in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The Acting Managing Director was in Kumasi to interact with staff of the GWCL to let them see the general direction of the company and understand the government's policy with regard to private sector participation.

He told Mr Boafo that the private operators, who would be invited to offer services would do so on the basis of leasehold and made it clear that there was no way assets of the GWCL could be sold off.

Mr Nunoo complained about the high level of pollution and encroachment on the catchment areas of the Owabi and Barekese dams through uncontrolled development.

He said that pollution makes treatment of water expensive, saying, the "GWCL spends three billion cedis every month on chemicals used to treat water nationwide".

It has, therefore, become pertinent to take firm measures to bring sanity to protect rivers and streams.

Mr Boafo asked the company to streamline its activities so as to ensure efficiency and justify the recent upward adjustment of its tariffs.

The Regional Minister assured the company that everything would be done to protect the catchment of its two dams since it is in the public interest.

Mr Jumah, who repeated his determination to ensure discipline in the land use in the Metropolis expressed concern about the nuisance caused by the frequent digging across roads in Kumasi by the GWCL to lay pipes.

He said the situation would no longer be accepted and that the GWCL would now require permit from the assembly and sign a contract before they dig across roads in the Metropolis.