MP exposes ?1.97bn deal at GWC

The Ghana Water Company (GWC) as at the end of last year, was indebted to a whopping tune of over one hundred and ninety seven billion cedis.

The company, which is in what can be described as a “fast track privatization lane,” owes much of its indebtedness to the general public who fail to pay water tariffs. It is now estimated that only 25 per cent of water produced throughout the country is paid for.

Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu who is the Chairman of the Water Sector Restructuring Project made this revelation, during a radio talk-show programme on Kumasi’s Mercury Radio.

According to the MP, inefficiency and ineffectiveness could also be counted as some of the problems leading to the huge financial mess of the cash strapped water company. Hon. Mensah Bonsu intimated that this, among other pressing issues, compelled the ruling NPP to move in fast to privatize the company. Some political parties have however condemned this.

Hon. Mensah-Bonsu who is also the Deputy Majority Chief Whip in Parliament refuted comments attributed to the Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated popular Party (GCPP), Mr. Dan Lartey in some sections of the media that the public will suffer, should the water company change hands.

The Member of Parliament for the Old Tafo-Suame constituency in Kumasi said that water tariffs would not shoot up as is being speculated by some opponents of water privatization concept.

According to Hon. Mensah-Bonsu, the GWC would sooner than later lay off about 2000 of its workforce, who are now found to be a liability to the company. This is to save GWC from making more financial loses. GWC currently has a workforce of about 5000.

The Chairman of the Water Sector Restructuring Project was however quick to add that, the GWC workers who would be laid off will be handsomely compensated to help them make a fresh start.

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) is the latest group to condemn the privatisation of water in the country. The party believes that the general public would be made to suffer in the hands of few profit making individuals.

Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Alhassan, Chairman of the party is quoted as saying at the recently held NPP Delegates Conference that “we will continue to oppose the privatisation of the Ghana Water Company.” The ruling party is however bent on carrying out its decision of selling away the Water Company.

The host of the programme urged the GWC to set up a well constituted task force to work along with the police to arrest people who have failed to pay their water bills, thus causing the company its present financial troubles.