Ghana Water Company Limited to ration water for three days in Accra

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has announced the implementation of a water rationing timetable for several parts of the Greater Accra Region, targeting a supply frequency of three to four days per week. This decision comes as households across the capital grapple with significant water shortages, forcing many residents to rely on expensive private water tankers and alternative sources. Stanley Martey, the Head of Public Relations at GWCL, explained that the current infrastructure cannot guarantee a 24/7 supply to all areas at this time, necessitating a structured distribution plan to ensure equity among consumers.

The ongoing crisis is primarily attributed to a widening gap between water demand and production capacity, which has remained largely stagnant since 2015. According to GWCL, no major production facilities have been added to the network in nearly a decade, even as the population and demand in Accra have continued to expand. The situation was further exacerbated by the shutdown of the Teshie Desalination Plant in late 2025, which removed a critical volume of water from the system and placed additional strain on existing treatment plants that were already operating at their limits.

To manage the shortfall, GWCL is currently re-engineering its distribution network and dividing affected communities into specific zones. This zoning will allow the company to publish a predictable rationing schedule, providing residents with clearer information on when to expect water flow. Mr. Martey emphasized that the company is also in active negotiations to restore operations at the Teshie Desalination Plant. Officials believe that bringing the facility back online could resolve between 80% and 90% of the current supply challenges in the region, providing much-needed relief to the most affected neighborhoods.

While these short-term measures are being deployed, GWCL is also looking toward long-term infrastructure projects to expand treatment capacity and modernize the aging pipe network. For now, the utility provider is urging residents to manage their consumption carefully and has pledged to improve communication regarding service interruptions. The success of the rationing program will be a key test for the utility sector under the administration of President John Mahama as it seeks to address inherited infrastructure deficits.