Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Adam Mutawakilu
The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Adam Mutawakilu, has cautioned that Ghana’s raw-water sources are rapidly silting up, a development he says poses a serious threat to the country’s ability to provide safe and reliable treated water to the public.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, October 20, 2025, on the topic,“The Effects of Siltation on the Operations of Ghana Water Limited—and What We Must Do Together” at the company’s headquarters in Accra, Mr. Mutawakilu said urgent collective action was needed to safeguard the country’s water systems from collapse.
“Ghana’s raw-water sources are silting up faster than our plants were built to handle. After heavy rains, turbidity at several major intakes now spikes to levels that make conventional treatment difficult, costly, and sometimes temporarily impossible. If we don’t act at the source, we will spend more each year to produce less water,” he stated.
Catchment Recovery Plan
The GWL boss announced that the company was launching a 24-month Catchment Recovery Plan aimed at stabilising major rivers and cutting treatment losses. “Today, I’m inviting Corporate Ghana and our public-sector partners to join Ghana Water Limited in a focused, 24-month Catchment Recovery Plan to stabilise priority rivers and cut treatment losses,” he said.
Mr. Mutawakilu described how siltation was undermining the operations of GWL. “Siltation breaks the system in several ways. Operationally, we face more frequent shutdowns when turbidities exceed what our systems can handle; we pause to clean structures, remove sludge, and wash filters more often—depressing output and reliability,” he stated.
Chemically, he noted, water that once responded to alum now demands improved treatment after storm events dominated by fine clays and colloids.
“Mechanically, abrasive solids erode pump parts and other structures, leading to multiple breakdowns, premature wear, unplanned replacements, and longer workshop queues,” he said.
He revealed that emergency dredging has now become routine, citing the Owabi and Mampong plants as examples. “At Owabi last year, dredging cost about GHS 64 million; at Mampong, about GHS 13.8 million. These interventions kept abstraction channels open—but they required downtime that reduced supply to our communities,” he said.
Worst-affected systems
According to the Managing Director, some of the worst-affected systems include Anyinam, Kibi, Osino, and Akim Oda on the Birim River; Nsawam on the Densu; Daboase and Sekyere Hemang on the Pra River; Bonsa on the Bonsa River; Kwanyako on the Ayensu River; Odaso on the Oda River; Konongo on the Anum River; Barekese on the Offin River; and Jambusie on the Black Volta.
He added that GWL had intensified preventive maintenance, refurbished pumps and motors, rehabilitated filters, and executed emergency dredging in several regions. “We have progressively shifted from a predominantly alum regime to carefully selected polymers. This shift is technical and unavoidable: polymers perform more efficiently at today’s turbidity profiles than alum can. But it carries a financial consequence. For example, chemical cost at Barekese, Odaso and Konongo in the Ashanti Region has increased by about 400%,” he mentioned.
Mr. Mutawakilu also noted that mechanical wear and higher energy consumption had compounded the company’s financial strain. “Silt-laden water shortens service intervals, increases spare-parts consumption, shrinks standby margins, and adds pressure to operating expenditure,” he said.
“Let me state this plainly: Ghana Water Limited is a tariff-regulated utility. We cannot immediately pass sudden cost surges to consumers, nor do we wish to; affordability matters. But the gap between regulated revenue and siltation-driven costs stretches the company beyond reasonable limits.”
He stressed that the proposed Catchment Recovery Plan was not only a technical response but also a financial imperative. “Targeted upstream will restore abstraction capacity, reduce treatment challenges, lower specific energy per cubic metre, and extend asset life by cutting abrasive wear. In simple terms, we convert recurring emergencies into planned, high-yield interventions that stabilise production and bend the unit-cost curve back toward baseline,” he said.
Caution
Mr. Mutawakilu cautioned that the implications of unchecked siltation extended far beyond Ghana Water Limited. “If siltation continues unchecked, costs will cascade across the economy,” he explained.
“Beverage and bottling firms will see slowdowns, higher inputs, and stock-outs. Food processors and fast-moving consumer-goods companies will face disrupted production cycles and quality incidents. Hospitals and schools will be forced into water carting with obvious hygiene and service risks.”
He, however, highlighted that partnership offers tangible benefits to the private sector. “Partnering now delivers tangible benefits to Corporate Ghana: supply reliability that protects revenue and brand trust; lower total water costs as unit production costs ease; visible, verifiable ESG impact tied to named river reaches; and prudent hedging against climate-driven variability in raw-water quality,” he stated.
Commendation
The GWL Managing Director lauded several ministries and agencies for their collaboration in the fight against galamsey. “We wish to acknowledge the significant steps taken by the Government of Ghana to combat illegal mining and protect our environment,” he said.
He specifically commended “the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under the leadership of Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Buah for the Blue Water Guard surveillance operations to monitor water bodies and prevent illegal mining activities.”
He also lauded “the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, led by Hon. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei,” for its sustained partnership with GWL. He thanked President John Dramani Mahama for his clear and decisive leadership through the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), which had made it difficult for illegal miners to operate.”
Mr. Mutawakilu acknowledged that while these efforts were yielding positive signs, much remained to be done. “In some catchment areas, we have observed significant improvements in surface turbidity. But let us be clear: the riverbeds remain heavily silted. Without sustained desilting operations, our pumps will continue to struggle to deliver quality water,” he cautioned.
Commitment
Reaffirming the company’s commitment, he said: “With your support, GWL will recover lost capacity at priority plants, reduce treatment losses and chemical dosage, lower specific energy and unit costs, and stabilise service to households, schools, health facilities, and businesses. We will report progress transparently so every partner can see how their contribution translates into fewer shutdowns, stronger plants, and more reliable supply.”
The GWL boss further added: “Water security begins at the source. If we protect the source, our plants will do the rest. Let us act with urgency and purpose—together—to keep Ghana’s taps running.”
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