Ghana Water ordered to suspend Kpong Water expansion project

The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has issued an order directing the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to immediately suspend its intended shut down of the Kpong Water Works until further notice.

The Commission has further ordered the GWCL to provide it with the schedule of works and planned completion date for the repair to the transmission pipelines supplying water from the Weija Plant and expansion of interconnection works at the Kpong Water Plant.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and External Affairs, Nana Yaa Jantuah said the order is in compliance with the powers conferred on the PURC to issue a regulatory order under Section 12(1) of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act 1997, Act 538.

The Act states that “Where the Commission discovers on its own or upon a complaint that the service provided by a Public Utility is not in accordance with the Act, 538 the Commission shall in writing direct the provision of the adequate or reasonable service that should be provided by the Public Utility.”

The PURC has also requested the GWCL to make available to the Commission the expected time for the normalization of water supply to consumers, as well as details of contingency measures the company intends to deploy to mitigate the impact of  the water shortages.

“In addition GWCL should furnish the Commission with a Communication Plan to inform consumers/customers on Repairs at the Weija Transmission Pipelines and for the intended shut down of the Kpong Plant,” the statement further said.

The GWCL on Tuesday announced that it would, from Monday, February 24 to Thursday, February 27, shut down the Kpong Water Treatment Plant, to allow contractors executing the Kpong Intake and Accra Tema Metropolitan Area Rural Rehabilitation and Expansion (ATMA) projects, undertake critical pipeline interconnections under the project due for completion in the next three months.

The shutdown is expected to interruption water supply to Tema, Ashaiman, Lashibi, Michel Camp, Afienya, Prampram, Ningo, Somanya, Dodowa, Akuapim, Ridge Areas, Adenta, Madina, Ashalley-Botwe, Adjiringano, East Legon, Legon, Ashongman, Kwabenya, Taifa, Dome, Achimota and surrounding areas.

Other areas to be affected include Abelemkpe, Dzorwulu, Roman Ridge, Airport Residential Area, 37, Kanda, Nima, Maamobi, Pig Farm, Kotobaabi, Kokomlemle, Cantonments, Ridge, Osu, La, Labone, Burma Camp, Teshie, Nungua, Baatsona, Spintex Road and surrounding areas.