Ahmed Ibrahim warns Ghana Water staff against service sabotage

Ahmed Ibrahim, the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, has issued a stern warning to the management and staff of Ghana Water Limited (GWL) against the politicization of their duties and the deliberate sabotage of water delivery operations. During a working visit to the utility company on October 20, 2026, the Minister emphasized that the provision of safe and clean water is a fundamental service that should not be compromised by internal negligence or partisan interests.

Addressing the workforce, Ibrahim characterized the act of sabotaging the national water supply as a "curse" on those involved, noting that such behavior directly impacts the well-being of Ghanaians. He cautioned that the government would not tolerate actions that undermine public operations, drawing parallels to past failures in other state-run organizations caused by similar internal issues. The Minister urged employees to remain focused on their core responsibility of maintaining infrastructure and ensuring a reliable water supply across the country.

A central focus of the Minister’s visit was the high rate of non-revenue water (NRW), which currently stands at 47%. This figure represents water that is produced but lost before it reaches the customer through leaks, theft, or metering inaccuracies. Ibrahim dismissed management's attempts to attribute these losses to recent flooding, describing such explanations as insufficient. Consequently, he issued a directive for the company to implement more effective measures to reduce the NRW rate to 40% or below by December 2026.

Despite his criticisms, Ibrahim expressed confidence in the potential for Ghana Water Limited to improve its operational efficiency and service delivery. He challenged the management team to be more proactive in their approach to maintenance and revenue collection, asserting that a professional, non-partisan workforce is essential for the company's long-term sustainability. The set target of 40% serves as a benchmark for the ministry to evaluate the company's performance over the next two years.