By Grace Zigah
Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has restructured its operations in the Greater Accra Region, dividing its former three distribution regions into six smaller regions in a move aimed at bringing management closer to customers and improving the delivery of water services.
The restructuring took effect on June 1, 2026, according to the company’s Accra East Public Relations Manager, Nana Yaw Barima Barnie.
Speaking during an interview with Isaac Addae on Starr FM, Barnie explained that GWL previously operated three distribution regions in Greater Accra — Tema, Accra East and Accra West — in addition to the Accra Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) production region.
Under the new arrangement, the three distribution regions have been divided into Tema West, Tema East, Accra West, Accra South, Accra East and Accra North.
Barnie said the decision was taken to make the regions more manageable and enable GWL to respond more quickly to customer concerns.
“Smaller things are better managed than bigger things,” he said, explaining that the restructuring would allow the company to move closer to customers, better understand their challenges and address them more efficiently.
Accra East remains major revenue centre
The restructuring has also changed the administrative structure of the Accra East Region.
Previously operating with 11 districts, the region now has five districts — Accra East, Accra North, Accra Central, Dome and Kwabenya.
Despite the reduction in the number of districts under its administration, Barnie said Accra East remains GWL’s largest region in terms of revenue collection and customer base.
He said the new structure was therefore expected to make it easier for the company to manage its large customer base while responding more effectively to service-related concerns.
Water rationing remains necessary
Barnie also addressed the continuing water supply challenges facing parts of Accra, explaining that rationing remains necessary because demand for treated water exceeds available supply.
He said communities are given specific rationing schedules, allowing residents to plan ahead and store water when supply is available.
However, he noted that interruptions could also occur because of planned maintenance, burst pipelines and equipment repairs.
He explained that increasing production capacity cannot be achieved immediately because the construction of new water treatment plants requires significant investment and considerable time.
GWL is therefore encouraging households in rationed areas to maintain adequate storage capacity to help them cope during periods when water is temporarily unavailable.
GWL intensifies revenue mobilisation
The company continues to face challenges with unpaid water bills and illegal connections, according to Barnie.
He said GWL regularly undertakes revenue mobilisation exercises, including visits to customers to encourage them to settle outstanding bills.
Customers who fail to pay their bills may have their water supply disconnected, while those whose connections are disconnected because of arrears are required to settle their outstanding amounts before reconnection.
Barnie urged customers to pay their bills regularly instead of allowing arrears to accumulate.
He explained that GWL relies on internally generated revenue to finance key operations, including salaries, chemicals, pipes, fuel and other operational expenses.
Digital systems introduced
GWL has also introduced electronic systems aimed at improving meter reading and billing.
Customer Care Assistants who read meters now use mobile devices to record readings and take photographs of meters as evidence. The system is intended to improve accountability and reduce disputes between the company and customers over meter readings.
Customers are also receiving electronic bills instead of traditional paper bills.
The company has introduced digital payment options through its customer application and USSD platforms.
Through the GWCL Customers App, customers can check their bills, access payment and billing history and make payments. USSD services are also available for customers who prefer not to use the application.
