GWL detects over 200 illegal water connections, charges offenders GH¢8.6m
GWL detects over 200 illegal water connections, charges offenders GH¢8.6m
Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has disclosed that it has so far detected 239 illegal water connections nationwide, with offenders charged a total of GHC8.6 million.
The Managing Director of GWL, Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, disclosed while speaking at the inauguration of additional revenue enhancement teams.
He said the company has recovered GH¢2.1 million from 217 illegal connections detected between August and December 2025.
According to Mr Mutawakilu, the recoveries underscore the effectiveness of targeted enforcement measures and justify the expansion of the revenue enhancement initiative across the country.
He explained that of the total amount charged, ¢3 million relates to just two clients, while the remaining ¢5.6 million is linked to the other 237 offenders.
“To tackle commercial losses more decisively, we established three Revenue Enhancement Teams in August 2025.
Between August and December 2025, we achieved the following: 217 illegal connections were discovered. 239 illegal connections have been detected as we speak. Out of this, GHC8.6 million has been charged. Out of this GHC8.6 million, 3 million is related to only two clients. Two clients amount to GHC3 million.
“The balance of the 5.6 million amounts to the remaining 237. GHC2.1 million has so far been recovered. We have written to them. Some have come voluntarily to pay. Those who have not yet, our legal counsel has taken it to the next level to proceed to court and sue with background internal law. These figures demonstrate both the scale of the challenges and the effectiveness of targeted intervention,” he said.
He noted that the figures reflect both the scale of revenue losses confronting the company and the impact of targeted interventions to address them.
Mr Mutawakilu said the revenue enhancement initiative represents a strategic and structured nationwide approach aimed at protecting GWL’s revenue base and ensuring long-term sustainability.
He added that the company is also pursuing digital transformation to reduce direct interaction between staff and customers, as part of efforts to improve efficiency and transparency.
“The revenue enhancement team represents a strategic, structured, and nationwide response to protect our revenue and streamline sustainability. Ghana Water takes note of this while undertaking this. We are also ensuring that digital transformation takes place to reduce the interface between Ghana Water Company’s staff and our customers,” he said.
As part of these efforts, GWL has inaugurated seven new revenue enhancement teams to strengthen compliance, boost revenue mobilisation, and detect illegal activities. The new teams bring the total number of revenue enhancement units to ten, following the establishment of three teams in 2025.
The teams are mandated to reduce the company’s indebtedness, eliminate illegal connections, verify meters, correct billing anomalies, reduce non-revenue water, educate customers to encourage voluntary compliance, and strengthen accountability and transparency.
According to GWL, the initiative is a response to longstanding commercial and technical challenges that have constrained cash flow and negatively affected service delivery, including illegal connections, billing irregularities, and system losses.
The company further disclosed that of the estimated 220 million gallons of water supplied daily across the country, only about 106 million gallons are currently billed, leaving approximately 114 million gallons unaccounted for.
