Kumasi residents face a 48-hour total water cut-off as GWL repairs Barekese pipeline

Residents of Kumasi and its surrounding communities are being asked to brace themselves for serious water shortages as Ghana Water Limited (GWL) prepares to shut down the Barekese Water Treatment Plant for 48 hours.

The utility company has announced a complete shutdown of the plant from Tuesday, June 9, to Thursday, June 11, 2026, to undertake urgent emergency repairs on the main transmission pipeline.

Here’s why Kumasi faces a looming water crisis

According to GWL, the primary pipeline at the Barekese headworks has developed serious structural weaknesses that require immediate, high-precision intervention by senior engineers to prevent a total breakdown of the system.

The company explained that the pumps will be switched off from 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday and will remain off until 6:00 a.m. on Thursday.

“The repair works are critical to safeguard the integrity of the transmission pipeline and ensure its continuous and reliable operation,” the statement said.

For thousands of households, businesses, hospitals, and industries in the Ashanti Regional capital, the two-day shutdown means no tap water for drinking, cooking, bathing, or other domestic needs, a situation many residents are already dreading.

GWL is therefore appealing to the public to start storing enough water immediately to cushion the impact of the disruption.

The company expressed regret for the inconvenience the exercise will cause but stressed that the maintenance is necessary to avoid a more prolonged and devastating crisis in the future.

Normal water supply is expected to resume fully once the repairs are completed on Thursday morning.

Residents are advised to follow official updates from GWL through radio and social media platforms as the shutdown date approaches.

NA/BAI