Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited, Adam Mutawakilu, says persistent water shortages in Accra and surrounding communities are largely the result of ageing treatment plants and decades of limited infrastructure expansion.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Mutawakilu disclosed that several of the major water facilities supplying the capital were built more than 60 years ago and are now operating below capacity due to obsolete equipment and deteriorating pipelines.
He explained that although additional investments were made in 2014 and 2015 under former President John Dramani Mahama including projects by Tahal Group, Siemens and China Gezhouba Group overall water production for Accra has not increased in recent years.
According to him, at least five major treatment plants across the system are now considered technically aged, while old asbestos and metal pipelines continue to cause frequent leakages, pressure losses and breakdowns.
Mr Mutawakilu further attributed the worsening supply situation to rapid urbanisation and rising demand across the Greater Accra Region, stressing that without sustained investment in new treatment plants and modern distribution networks, water shortages in the capital are likely to persist.