Sandema water board increases tariffs by 50 per cent

Sandema, (Upper East) 12 July '99

The Sandema Water and Sanitation Development Board has increased tariffs on potable water supplied to its customers by 50 per cent to meet its operational and maintenance costs.

Consequently, an unmetered house with more than 16 tenants, which previously paid 13,350 cedis a month, would now pay 39,950 cedis. Communities operating hand pumps would be required to pay 15,000 cedis, instead of the previous 4,000 cedis, while a private residence without a meter would attract 12,500 cedis.

The board also intends to install meters for institutions and organisations which have no meters in order to maximise its collection to meet maintenance cost.

Mr. Daniel Syme, Builsa district chief executive, announced this at the second ordinary session of the assembly at Sandema.

He said since the board took over operations from the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC) in 1997, it has never reviewed tariffs on water, even though the GWSC has done so three times since 1997.

Mr Syme said a meeting, held between the assembly and water consumers, stakeholders and the board to deliberate on how to sustain the board's operation, agreed on the 50 per cent increase.

GRi./