Director of Communications at the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Stanley Martey, has assured the public that his outfit is committed to addressing the water shortages experienced in some parts of Accra.

According to him, the water turbidity level as at today, November 7, 2023, is still high, which has resulted in the slow pace in addressing the crisis. He revealed that due to the high turbidity levels, treatment of the water hasn’t commenced yet.

That notwithstanding, Mr Martey stated that the GWCL is still monitoring progress on hourly basis to ensure that anytime the turbidity level goes down and within treatable ranges, it will start production immediately.

This morning, we’ve had discussions with opinion leaders, and we are seeing how best we can send water tankers especially to hospitals and schools. So, we are managing the situation, everything is under control, and we hope that things go well.”
Stanley Martey

Elaborating on the extent of work being undertaken by GWCL to tackle the water supply challenge, especially due to the technical challenges being experienced at the Weija Treatment Plant, Mr Martey indicated that the Company is done working on the motors. However, he expressed that there are other key issues which needs to be taken care of.

“… But we are going to fix them today and hope that by tonight or latest by tomorrow morning, we should be able to finish mounting the pumps and motor, and then production can start immediately. There’s water within that area except the volumes are not that much and the demand is currently very high and that is what is causing the challenges within the area. But we are working swiftly to ensure that everything is normalized within the shortest possible time.”
Stanley Martey

Restoring water supply in affected communities

Commenting on when water supply will be fully restored, Mr Martey stated that “taps are flowing, but are flowing with low pressures”. Nonetheless, he assured the public that GWCL is working seriously to ensure that the water situation normalizes.

“As I speak, I’m on my way to Weija, we are going there with the minister to see some of the other things going on there and to ensure that there’s some improvement in the system… Barring any technical challenge, we should be able to provide water close of day tomorrow.”
Stanley Martey

Prior to this, the director of communications for the GWCL, revealed that urged residents of affected areas to use water judiciously. He advised that where there is water flowing, the public should “use the water wisely because if you have more water in the pipeline, the pressures could improve to some other area”.

“So, let’s use water that is flowing wisely and then we can have water and improve on the pressures. Currently, we are just doing about 60% and it is highly inadequate for the populations in Accra.”
Stanley Martey

Prior to this, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) urged its customers within Western Accra to be mindful of water consumption and use water wisely to improve supply to other areas.

It stated that this is so because it is currently supplying water to only about 60 percent of the customers it serves in Western Accra, which is inadequate.

Contained in a statement, the GWCL blamed the current water shortages being experienced in parts of Accra on challenges at its Weija treatment plant.

Areas including McCarthy Hill, Darkuman, Lapaz, and Gbawe, among others, have been affected by shortfalls in the volumes of water.