Population Surge in Accra Exceeds Water Company’s Capacity, Leading to Shortages

In the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, residents have been grappling with a water crisis, with irregular water supply affecting various parts of the capital city. Areas like Adenta, Kasoa, Weija, and Apaapa in La have reported significant disruptions to their daily lives due to the scarcity of water. This situation has forced some residents to purchase water from tankers at inflated prices, exacerbating their challenges.

The Ghana Water Company, Limited (GWCL), the state-owned entity responsible for providing water services in the region, has attributed this water shortage to the rapid population growth in Accra. Dr. Clifford Braimah, the Managing Director of GWCL, expressed concern that the population surge in the capital city has outpaced the company’s capacity to meet the growing demand for water.

Dr. Braimah acknowledged the necessity for GWCL to upgrade its infrastructure and machinery to address the escalating water crisis. He emphasized that the volume of water currently being produced by the company is insufficient to cater to the needs of Accra’s expanding population. To address this challenge, GWCL is planning to establish a new water production system in Kpone, with the aim of boosting water supply. However, Dr. Braimah mentioned that financial constraints have hindered progress in this regard since 2017 and 2018.

He stated, “Already in Accra, the volume of water we produce, the population has outgrown it, and we are looking at putting up a new system at Kpone to boost our production but resource constraint has been the problem, Since 2017, 2018, we have been working, and we have not settled on finances.”

In response to residents’ complaints about irregular water supply, Dr. Braimah acknowledged that some of these issues are related to localized faults within the water distribution system. He encouraged residents to report such problems to their nearest GWCL office to facilitate swift resolution.

The water crisis in Greater Accra underscores the challenges faced by rapidly growing urban areas in developing countries. As populations expand, the demand for essential services like water supply increases, placing additional strain on existing infrastructure. Governments and utility providers must invest in upgrading and expanding these systems to ensure access to clean and reliable water for all residents.