GWL Distribution Manager Explains Water Supply Challenges in Ashanti South Region

The Regional Distribution Manager for Ashanti South at the Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Ing. Maxwell Akosah-Kusi, has outlined key challenges affecting water supply in parts of the region, including population growth, power instability and human activities around water sources.

Speaking in an interview with Kofi Boakye on Nkwantannanso on Opemsuo Radio, Ing. Akosah-Kusi explained that while efforts are made to extend water to communities along major pipeline routes, the company’s primary mandate is to serve urban centres.

“When you travel from Barekese through Ahyiase to Suame, you will notice that during the water project, we made efforts to supply water to communities along that stretch. It would not be fair for us to take land from a community to lay major pipelines while the people there do not benefit from the water,” he said.

He noted that decisions to extend water supply are based on technical assessments, including pressure levels, capacity and the number of users that can be effectively served.

According to him, long-term planning also takes into account population growth projections over several decades to ensure sustainability of supply.

Ing. Akosah-Kusi, however, pointed out that rapid population growth has outpaced infrastructure development in many areas. He cited Barekese and surrounding communities as examples, explaining that the water system was designed decades ago for a much smaller population, with only limited expansions carried out over the years.

“For areas like Barekese and Wawase, the original development plan dates back to around 1960. Since then, there have been only two major expansions, the most recent between 2009 and 2011. From 2011 to 2026, the population has grown significantly, and beyond households, demand has increased from industries, salons, offices and schools, but the source remains largely the same,” he explained.

He further identified unstable electricity supply as a major constraint to water production and distribution, noting that pumping and treatment processes depend heavily on consistent power.

“Over the past three months, power supply has been inconsistent, with no full week of stable electricity. Even when power is available, the voltage is sometimes too low to operate our systems effectively. When voltage is low, we are forced to shut down operations to prevent damage to our equipment,” he stated.

Ing. Akosah-Kusi also raised concerns about environmental factors affecting water quality, particularly activities around water bodies. He explained that farming and the use of fertilizers near water sources contribute to pollution through runoff, which promotes the growth of algae and reduces the volume of water that can be treated.

He emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to address these challenges to ensure reliable and sustainable water supply in the region.