The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has assured residents of Anfoega and surrounding communities of decisive interventions to restore reliable water supply following prolonged shortages that have affected livelihoods and public health in the area.

The assurance was given during a courtesy call by the Managing Director of GWCL, Adam Mutawakilu, and his management team on the Paramount Chief of Anfoega Akukome, Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, at Anfoega Akukome in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region.

The visit formed part of GWCL’s broader community engagement efforts as the company works to resolve long-standing operational challenges nationwide. It also provided an opportunity for management to pay respect to traditional authority and to personally assess the water situation that has left several communities within the Kpando enclave in distress. 

Mr Mutawakilu was accompanied by Ing Michael Botse Baidoo, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Operations; Mr Michael Klutse, Chief Manager in charge of Corporate Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation; Ing Amidu Musah, Chief Manager of Operations; Mr Stanley Martey, Chief Manager for Public Relations and Communication; Ing Emmanuel Johnson, Chief Manager for the Volta Region; and other senior officials.

Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, who is also the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, expressed appreciation to the managing director for what he described as the “seriousness attached to the water situation in the area.”

He noted that previous attempts to engage management of the water company had yielded little result, leaving residents to rely on unsafe water sources with serious health implications.

According to the paramount chief, the persistent lack of potable water had exposed residents to water-borne diseases and undermined livelihoods within the community. He commended Mr Mutawakilu for personally visiting Anfoega Akukome to assess the situation and listen to the concerns of the people.

“For you to come yourself to assess the situation and listen to our complaints is commendable. Let us engage and see how we can all resolve this problem once and for all,” Togbe Tepre Hodo IV said.

The remarks were made in the presence of sub-chiefs and queen mothers, who also stressed the urgency of addressing the perennial water challenges confronting the community.

In his response, Mr Mutawakilu explained that the Kpando Water Treatment Plant, which serves Anfoega and neighbouring communities, has an installed capacity of about 6,400 cubic metres per day. However, he said current average daily production stands at approximately 3,000 cubic metres, representing about 47 per cent of the plant’s installed capacity, with operations running for only 11 to 12 hours daily.

He noted that the gap between installed capacity and actual production indicated that, with the right interventions, the system could adequately serve additional communities and significantly improve water delivery in the area.

The managing director assured the traditional authorities that Ghana Water Company Limited would procure quality pipes of the appropriate size to address distribution challenges, not only to meet current demand but also to cater for future growth. He stressed that the company was committed to implementing durable solutions rather than temporary fixes.

Mr Mutawakilu added that GWCL’s technical teams were continuously assessing the system to identify and address operational challenges affecting water production and distribution in the region.

He said the interventions align with the Government’s Water for All agenda being championed by President John Dramani Mahama, aimed at ensuring equitable access to safe and reliable water for communities across the country.

“I want to assure you that we will do everything possible to ensure that water flows again. His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama will be glad to hear that the communities here have water,” Mr Mutawakilu said.

He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with technical staff and management to take all necessary steps to restore water supply to Anfoega and other affected communities, and to bring lasting relief to residents.