The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has admonished landlords and landladies to allow tenants use water for free for the next three months and not sell to them as part of government’s relief measures.
A statement issued by the GWCL said, the Government of Ghana will be absorbing the domestic water bills of citizens for three months as part of reliefs announced in the Mid-Year Budget on July 23, 2020.
“The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and the Ghana Water Company Limited wishes to inform the General Public, that the Presidents directive on the free water services for domestic consumption, will continue for the next three months as stipulated in the Mid-Year Budget announced to the public on 23rd of July, 2020, thus, the Government of Ghana will be absorbing domestic water bills of citizens again, from July, through August and end in September, 2020.”
“This directive is to support Ghanaians and to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Management wishes to inform the general public that the implementation of the President’s directive is in progress since the period of implementation takes effect with July consumption.”
“Landlords and landladies who sell water to tenants must allow tenants to use the water for free from July, August and September.”
According to the statement also, all Domestic customers of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) on category 611 shall have their bills from July, August and September 2020, absorbed and paid by Government.
It also said that all metered stand-pipes on category 643 shall be used to serve citizens for free. And as a result vendors are expected to still control the services to the public to ensure the prudent use of water.
The GWCL further asked the general public and Opinion leaders to desist from mounting standpipes or connecting water in any way without recourse to the GWCL saying it is wrong and illegal for any individual to connect water to any property without reference to the GWCL and non adherence to this will attract penalties.
“Anyone who flouts this directives contravenes the law;the Public’s Utilities(Termination of Services) Regulation 1999, L1 1651 and it’s likely to face full rigours of the law.”
Moving on to customers who owe the GWCL, the statement said they are still liable and are being asked to settle their bills or negotiate a payment method in order to enjoy the current directive by the government.
“Customers in arrears must negotiate with the District Offices and Regional Offices for flexible terms of payment to enable them settle their areas, then they can be reconnected to enable them enjoy free water services. These cases will be treated on individual bases.”
With the deprived communities, the statement said that Water Supply tankers and COVID Free WataTank services are still in operation to provide them with water and must therefore, laise with the Assembly members to request for the services.
Finally, customers were entreated to repair all leakages in their homes and immediately report all burst pipes and leakages to the nearest GWCL office.
