Treat Galamsey as a National Emergency, Not an Excuse for Tariff Hikes – ISODEC, AWJN
The Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) and the Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) have strongly opposed the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) proposal for a 280% increase in water tariffs, calling it unfair and unsustainable.
In a joint statement issued on September 10, the two civil society groups acknowledged the serious threat illegal mining (galamsey) poses to water resources but stressed that increasing tariffs won’t solve the deeper issues.
“The devastation from galamsey is real, but the solution isn’t to raise tariffs. Galamsey must be treated as a national security emergency. Citizens shouldn’t be forced to pay for the state’s failure to protect our rivers,” the statement said.
They also pointed to GWCL’s high non-revenue water (NRW) losses—nearly 50%—which are far above global benchmarks, and called for urgent investment in fixing leaking pipelines, better metering, and tackling water theft.
The groups highlighted other financial pressures, including the costly Teshie Desalination Plant and politically influenced contracts draining GWCL’s resources. They called on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and government to support GWCL through structural reforms, not by burdening consumers.
“Water is a human right, and we must ensure access remains affordable. Fixing inefficiencies and renegotiating exploitative contracts should come before passing costs onto the public,” they added.
Don’t Punish Ghanaians for System Failures – ISODEC, AWJN Reject GWCL’s 280% Tariff Hike Request
The Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) and the Africa Water Justice Network (AWJN) have strongly rejected the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) request for a 280% increase in water tariffs, calling the justification flawed and unfair.
They described GWCL’s comparison of its tariffs with sachet, bottled, and tanker water prices as misleading. “People rely on sachet and tanker water because GWCL has failed to provide reliable access. You can’t use your own failure to justify a price hike,” the groups said.
On illegal mining, they emphasized that while the damage from galamsey is severe, tariff hikes are not the answer. “Galamsey is a national security crisis that demands urgent government action—not more pressure on ordinary citizens,” the statement read.
Key Recommendations:
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Fix the System First:
Government and PURC must help GWCL cut its water losses (NRW), now nearing 50%, by investing in better pipes, metering, and anti-theft systems. -
Renegotiate Desalination Contract:
The costly Teshie Desalination deal must be restructured or cancelled to ease the financial burden on GWCL. -
Create a Water Solidarity Fund:
Introduce a 2.5% levy on oil and mining revenues—similar to GETFund or NHIL—to support the water sector and hold extractive industries accountable. -
Improve Transparency in Procurement:
GWCL’s contracting must be transparent, competitive, and subject to parliamentary oversight to prevent political interference. -
Protect the Right to Water:
The PURC must put human rights before profit. Water is a public good, not just a commodity.
Final Word:
“Approving a massive tariff increase without first fixing inefficiencies, removing bad contracts, and addressing galamsey would be deeply unjust,” the CSOs concluded. They called on the PURC to reject GWCL’s request and push for long-term, structural reforms.
