Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has issued a stern warning against illegal water connections across the Accra-Tema metropolis, vowing to clamp down on offenders to curb revenue losses and support infrastructure expansion.
The utility company uncovered nearly 1,500 illegal connections across its 12 operational districts between the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. As part of its response, GWL has announced plans to prosecute individuals involved in these illicit activities.
According to the Regional Production Manager for the Accra-Tema area, Ing.Dr. Hadisu Alhassan, the company is rolling out robust strategies to detect and dismantle illegal connections nationwide.
His remarks followed a recent inspection led by the GWL Board Chairman, Mr. Biligio Adama, who personally uncovered two cases of illegal connections at Power Land, near the Ritz Junction–Agbogba Road.
In one notable case, a customer was found to have three water connections—only one of which was metered. The remaining two were being used to illegally sell water to tanker operators.
Speaking to the media, Ing. Alhassan praised the Board Chairman’s hands-on approach, noting: “It’s rare to see a board chairman step out of the boardroom and lead enforcement efforts on the ground. His action sends a strong message that business as usual is over.”
He explained that part of the illegal facility was concealed behind a wall, housing large reservoirs used to sell water commercially. “Yesterday, we witnessed tankers exiting the premises. This is a direct attack on the company’s efforts to generate the revenue needed to maintain infrastructure and expand access,” he said.
Ing. Dr. Alhassan reaffirmed Ghana Water Limited’s commitment to tackling illegal connections, including those involving its own personnel. Referring to the Agbogba incident, he emphasized that the company would follow due process and collaborate with security agencies: “We will ensure that the appropriate steps are taken. While the security agencies handle their investigations, we will pursue the commercial side—calculating losses and seeking full recovery of what we’ve been deprived of.”
He added: “This is not just about recovering losses; it’s also about ensuring that those who flout the law face the necessary sanctions. Accountability must apply across the board.”
Ing. Dr. Alhassan also stressed that they are out to crack the whip on illegal connection including their own people and indicated that regarding the Agbogba incident, “the due process would be put in, we will involve the security agencies and we will follow due process.
Whiles the security agency do their part, we will also do the commercial bit and ensure that we will get the right benefit from it, whatever we have been robbed of, we should be able to recover that, not just recovering but people should be punished appropriately for taking the wrong steps.
GWL also emphasized that illegal water connections not only threaten the utility’s operations but also deny entire communities their right to safe drinking water. “This is an assault on the public’s fundamental right to water,” Ing. Alhassan concluded.
