The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Adam Mutawakilu, has disclosed that over half of the water produced by the company goes unaccounted for due to aging infrastructure and illegal connections.
In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Mr. Mutawakilu stated that Ghana’s daily water demand is approximately 350 million gallons, but current production levels fall significantly short.
“The demand is about 350 million gallons a day. Currently, we produce only 214 million gallons, leaving a shortfall of about 136 million gallons every day,” he explained.
The shortfall is most pronounced in Accra, which consumes 60–70% of the country’s water demand.
“If we focus on Accra, daily demand is 210 million gallons, but production is only 137 million. That leaves a deficit of around 73 million gallons in the capital alone,” he noted.
Mr. Mutawakilu attributed the high water losses to weaknesses in the transmission and distribution system, describing much of the infrastructure as old and fragile. He also pointed to illegal connections as a major contributor to unaccounted-for water.
“When you factor in weak infrastructure and illegal usage, about 52% of the water produced is unaccounted for,” he said.
He emphasized that upgrading infrastructure and tackling illegal connections are crucial steps toward improving water supply and reducing losses nationwide.
