Adam Mutawakilu, the newly appointed Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has assured residents of Ho and its environs that the ongoing water supply challenges will soon be resolved soon. During an inspection of the Kpeve Water Intake Point and Water Treatment Plant, he revealed that urgent measures were being implemented to restore stable water supply.
While a submersible pump had been deployed as a temporary solution, it was insufficient to meet demand. However, he assured residents that two new pumps had been procured and were expected to arrive in March to provide a more sustainable medium-term solution.
Adam Mutawakiluemphasised the government’s commitment to resolving the crisis, noting that President John Mahama was dedicated to the “Water for All Agenda.” He highlighted plans for the Ho Water Expansion Project and other regional initiatives to meet increasing demand. He also acknowledged that the existing intake pumps, installed over 30 years ago, had undergone multiple repairs and could no longer function at full capacity. As a result, he stressed that expanding the Kpeve Treatment Plant was essential to ensuring a reliable long-term water supply for the region.
The current water production capacity of the Kpeve Treatment Plant stands at 11,272 cubic metres per day, falls far below the required 23,580 cubic metres needed to meet demand. With Ho and its surrounding areas home to approximately 262,000 people, the shortfall of 12,308 cubic metres per day has significantly impacted households, businesses and institutions. To address this, GWL has introduced a Demand Management Programme to ensure equitable water distribution. Despite these efforts, the urgency of infrastructure expansion remains critical to bridging the supply gap and securing a stable water future for the region.
We all know that water is life, yet for thousands of residents and communities, access to clean and reliable water remains a luxury rather than a basic right. The assurances from the Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited regarding short-term interventions and medium-term solutions offer a glimmer of hope. However, the persistent water supply challenges in Ho are symptomatic of a larger, systemic issue affecting water access across the country. Unless swift and long-term investments are made in water infrastructure, many more communities may find themselves in a similar predicament.
Ho’s predicament is not an isolated one. Across Ghana, water shortages have become more frequent due to rapid urbanisation, population growth and the adverse effects of climate change. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, as of 2021, nearly 37% of urban Ghanaians lacked access to safely managed drinking water. In Accra and Kumasi, intermittent supply disruptions have become common due to infrastructure constraints, pollution of water bodies and excessive reliance on outdated treatment plants.
The recent deployment of a submersible pump as a temporary fix underscores the severity of the situation. Yet, even with the anticipated arrival of two new pumps in March, these measures only scratch the surface. The core issue remains the aging and inadequate infrastructure, as the three intake pumps at Kpeve have exceeded their functional lifespan of over 30 years. Multiple repairs have failed to restore full operational capacity, making the expansion of the Kpeve Treatment Plant a necessity rather than an option.
The Volta Region, where Ho is located, has a supply coverage of only 50%, meaning that half of the region’s urban population remains underserved. Ghana Water Limited struggles to meet increasing demand, yet government investment in water infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth.
President John Mahama’s commitment to the “Water for All Agenda” and the proposed Ho Water Expansion Project are commendable, but implementation must be swift and strategic. Reliance on state funding alone is insufficient; public-private partnerships (PPPs) should be encouraged to bring in investment for large-scale projects.
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, and Ghanaians should not have to struggle daily for this basic necessity. The time for action is now.
