Ghana Water Is Sinking � Martey

The Communications Manager of Ghana Water Company Limited, Stanley Martey has revealed that the utility company has not broken even in a very long time. According to him, his outfit�s failure to break even is what has accounted for its inability to maintain a sustainable tariff regime and the reason for the frequent increases in water tariffs. He told journalists during a tour of the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project that his outfits major challenge has been the leakages and illegal connections engaged in by many households and firms. This activity he lamented is what has occasioned the company�s inability to match its production levels as against its expected revenue and actual revenue derived from the sale of its product. He further lamented that even though currently the Kpong project produces about 40 million gallons of water per day, illegal connections render such hard work unprofitable, and the reason for which government has to subsidize its activities. He revealed however that HPP Properties has been contracted to deal with the detected leakages and wastage in the system. Regarding prepaid metering, he noted that results from the pilot project undertaken reveals that the best of equipment would have to be acquired to be able to undertake such a project. He assured however that efforts are underway to secure funding which when availed would see the implementation of the prepaid metering for water supply. Frederick Akuffo, Project Engineer for the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project noted that the contractor, the Kpong Project which is the biggest water project currently is under the supervision of Messrs China Gezhouba Group Co. Limited. The project sum is US$273,000,000.00. It would lead to the construction of a new 353,000m 3/day water treatment plant, supply and laying of new transmission mains form Kpong through Dodowa to Accra, distribution improvements works, construction of reservoirs, provision of dedicated power supply (39km) and the renovation of GWCL head office building, which is currently 94.27% completed. Still in Kpong, on-going projects include; the Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) Rural Water Supply which is ongoing in the south of Kpong. The project which is 97% complete has seen to the construction of 28,000m3/ day water treatment plant, supply and laying of transmission pipeline (56km and 7km of 400mm respectively), destruction improvement works (51km of 100mm), construction of 4 reservoirs and technical assistance/support. The projects, Mr. Akuffo Boafo are being constructed by Messrs Tahal Group BV of the Netherlands at a cost of 41 million Euros. Similarly he hinted that, the ATMA Rural Water Supply North of Kpong which is 97% complete is been constructed by Messrs Tahal constructing Engineers, of Israel at a cost of US$19,698,000.00. The scope of works include the construction of 14,000m3/day water treatment plant, supply and laying of transmission pipeline, supply and laying of distribution pipelines, construction of new reservoirs and technical assistance and support. Other ongoing projects include the Teshie-Nungua Desalination Plant Project which is 82% complete with cost pegged at US$115,000,000.00. The contractor, Messrs Befesa Desalination Development Ghana Limited is seeing to the installation of 60,000m3/day sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant, construction of sea intake and outfall activities and supply and laying of 1.8km 800mm diameter transmission pipeline and the Akim Oda, Akwatia and Winneba Water Supply which are expected to be completed in April 2016 at a cost of US $164,500,000.00. The Nsawam Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project � Phase I which has seen the construction of intake, low lift pumping station, construction of new water treatment plant (7,400m3/day) replacement of transmission mains, distribution network extension improvements to 11 communities located along the transmission pipeline route is also 95% complete. Some completed projects includes the Osenase, Apedwa, Kibi, Anyinam and Kwabeng Water Supply Projects, the Essakyir Water Supply Projects, the Essakyir Water Supply Project and the Mampong Water Supply Rehabilitation And Expansion Projects. It is worthy to note that all these projects received parliamentary approval before they commenced.