Winneba: Mr Adam Mutawakilu, the Managing Director of Ghana Water Ltd. (GWL), has dismissed claims that about 140,000 residents in the Effutu Constituency are facing acute water shortages due to interruptions at the Winneba Headworks. He described the assertions as unfounded and unsupported by operational data available to management.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Mutawakilu made these remarks during an inspection tour of the Winneba Headworks, part of his routine visits to facilities. He stated that the treatment plant continues to produce 9,700 cubic metres of water daily without any major interruption in service. This response came after assertions by the Member of Parliament for Effutu and former Board Chairman of GWL, Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, claimed widespread water shortages affecting over 140,000 residents.
Mr Mutawakilu explained that official data available to management contradicted the MP's position, and no such widespread interruption had occurred in the constituency. He stated, "The records at our disposal do not support the claim that 140,000 people have been cut off from supply. The Winneba Headworks has not experienced interruptions that would account for such a scale of shortage. Whenever there is an interruption, whether for six hours or several days, Ghana Water Ltd always notifies customers."
The Managing Director emphasised that as a former Board Chairman, Mr Afenyo-Markin could have easily verified his information with management before making such a statement publicly. Mr Mutawakilu clarified that the only affected customers in the area were those impacted by the ongoing Accra-Takoradi road construction works, which began in 2024, disrupting water pipelines and affecting about 1,110 customers. Of this number, approximately 210 were within the Effutu Constituency and 900 in the neighbouring Awutu-Senya Constituency.
He stressed that this was unrelated to the supposed large-scale shutdown suggested by the MP. The Managing Director further explained that GWL had already engaged the Ghana Highway Authority, the Minister of Roads and Highways, and the contractors working on the project to relocate affected pipelines. He added that he had personally held discussions with the Roads Minister, who assured him of urgent action. The procurement of new pipes for the relocation is almost complete, and work will soon begin to restore supply to the affected households.
Mr Mutawakilu also touched on ongoing expansion works at the Weija Treatment Plant, which supplies water to Kasoa and its environs. He mentioned that four filters at the plant had been down for years, reducing production capacity. He assured, "Very soon, those filters will be ready, and production will increase, allowing us to push more water to Kasoa. I want to assure the people of Kasoa that very soon, Inshallah they will see an improvement in water supply."
He reaffirmed the government's commitment, under President John Dramani Mahama, to reset the country's systems and infrastructure, including the water sector. He pledged that GWL, with the support of its management, board, and staff, would work diligently to resolve challenges and improve service delivery nationwide.
