GWCL connects over 100,000

In a transformative collaboration that commenced in 2019, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and WaterWorX have successfully financed seven major water access projects, positively impacting over 100,000 individuals in low-income communities.

The Low-Income Consumer Support Department (LICSD) of GWCL has been instrumental in advocating for the extension of water services to underserved urban areas, particularly focusing on providing affordable, safe water, and hygiene services to the less privileged, with a special emphasis on women and girls in informal settlements and slums.

The LICSD interventions include extending distribution networks to communities, drilling boreholes, providing water storage facilities, and constructing School Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems.

These efforts aim to ensure that communities have access to adequate supplies of safe water and sanitation facilities.

Currently, water supply coverage in urban areas of Ghana stands at 75%, leaving 25%, or approximately five million people, without access to safe drinking water.

To bridge this gap, GWCL welcomes the peer-to-peer support from WaterWorX, which is championed by the Low-Income Customer Support Unit, now a fully-fledged department.

Dr. Clifford Braimah, the Managing Director of GWCL, highlighted the significant impact of LICSD interventions, revealing that they have facilitated 25,593 water connections, 535 kilometers of network extensions, 95 standpipes, 17 school WASH facilities, and 12 kilometers of service lines in the Upper West, Ashanti, and Greater Accra Regions.

These initiatives are undertaken in collaboration with partners such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Bank, WaterWorX, and the Red Cross Society.

Dr. Braimah emphasized the success of the strategic partnership with WaterWorX, initiated in 2019, highlighting shared objectives and a commitment to progress.

The collaboration has secured funding for a potential eighth project and forged essential partnerships, including one between LICSD and the Red Cross.

The collaboration has also focused on enhancing water access, technological innovation, and capacity building.

Dr. Braimah stated, “This is more than just a partnership; it is a shared journey towards a future where every individual in urban Ghana has reliable access to clean and safe water.”

The commitment to resilience against climate change is evident through specialized training initiatives, with the introduction of diagnostic tools like thermal cameras and vibration meters.

Over 250 maintenance staff across Ghana have been equipped with the necessary knowledge, and plans are underway to distribute 33 more diagnostic maintenance sets, enhancing preventive maintenance capabilities.

With responsibilities extending to potable water supply for all urban communities in Ghana, including industries, commercial, government, and domestic customers, GWCL produces over 310 million cubic meters of water annually and employs over 5,000 staff.

The company continues to initiate operational improvements, driven by a commitment to providing sustainable and efficient water services to the people of Ghana.

Source:Elvis DARKO, Zedmultimedia