No free water for customers disconnected before last Sunday – GWCL insists

The Ghana Water Company Limited says all customers who owe water bills and had their taps disconnected before Sunday, April 5 will not enjoy the free three-month water package announced by the government for all Ghanaians.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 5th covid-19 address to the nation announced government was going to absorb water bills for all domestic users for the month of April, May and June as part of stimulus package to cushion Ghanaians in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

“All water tankers, publicly and privately-owned, are also going to be mobilised to ensure the supply of water to all vulnerable communities,” the President added said.

Although the government has categorically stated that all persons who have arrears will still enjoy the package for the period, the GWCL says those whose pipes were disconnected prior to the announcement of the package, will not be reconnected to enjoy the free water.

“All customers disconnected prior to the President’s announcement, are still liable and must pay their arrears to enable them enjoy the free water,” the Company maintained in a statement Thursday.

It has therefore advised the affected persons who are unable to make full payment of their arrears to contact the GWCL to negotiate terms of payment.

“If a customer is not in a position to pay arrears in full, such customer can negotiate with the District Offices and or Regional Offices, so as to be reconnected. These cases will be treated on individual bases” it advised.

Meanwhile, the company said all stand-pipes shall be used to serve citizens for free because the government will absorb the bill “and pay commission/compensation to the vendors.”

It said vendors are expected to control the services to the public, but for free, in order to ensure the prudent use of water.



“Landlords and landladies who sell water to tenants must allow tenants to use the water for free from April, May and June. Landlords and Landladies who sell water to other members of the community must register with the district offices of the GWCL to be eligible for commission/compensation,” GWCL advised.

The company said in places where there are no GWCL lines or taps, particularly deprived communities, tanker services have been arranged to serve them.

“Consumers in such communities must liaise with the Assembly members, who will request for the services of these tankers from our district offices. The numbers for all district offices of the GWCL will be published in the media,” it said.

It has advised customers against indiscriminate watering of lawns with treated water, moderate the use of treated water for car washing through the use of buckets instead of hosing, shut all taps when not in use.

Customers have also been asked to repair all leakages in their homes, report all burst pipes and leakages immediately to the nearest GWCL district offices and report all persons engaged in illegal connections, by-passes, and all malpractices against GWCL to the nearest Police station or to the district offices.