Report By: Ishmael Barfi
Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has launched an initiative to reduce arrears and improve revenue collection. The company is struggling to finance its operations and is engaging 2,200 National Service Personnel (NSP) in the Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area to focus on collecting arrears, identifying illegal connections, and promoting electronic payment systems.
Managing Director of GWCL, Adam Mutawakilu, stated that the company has deliberated on strategies to address the issue and has decided to dedicate the NSPs to collection of arrears while ensuring that districts do not continue to accumulate arrears. He noted that the digital access is based on key indicators, one of which is the reduction in arrears.
“As we speak, the arrears is dropping month by month as they collect,” Mutawakilu said. He attributed the progress to the use of electronic payment systems and pay points, which cover almost 57% and 32% of collections, respectively.
Mutawakilu emphasized the importance of promoting electronic payments, such as mobile money, to reduce human interface and increase efficiency. “In this digital world, we should rather promote the use of mobile money to pay because that reduces the interface between our staff, or any other person and the customer,” he said.
GWCL has a platform that allows customers to download and use it to pay, or use the shortcode, star, 1010, hash, to pay. The company believes that with proper implementation and monitoring, they should be able to reduce arrears drastically and improve their electronic payment system by next year.
The initiative also involves detecting illegal connectors, bypasses, and meters that are not working, and reporting them for remedial measures to be taken. GWCL’s revenue water is currently at 51.6% as of December 2025, dropping from 52.1%, and the company aims to bring it down further.
The NSPs have been trained at the Ghana Water Institute and are working in collaboration with national security to gather intelligence and ensure their safety. The company has divided the NSPs into two batches and provided them with proper training to ensure they are equipped to carry out their duties effectively.
Mutawakilu urged customers to cooperate with the NSPs and make payments electronically. “If you go and the customer is valid, don’t insist,” he said, emphasizing the importance of customer education and cooperation in achieving the company’s goals.
The Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area was chosen for the initiative because it accounts for 63% of GWCL’s revenue, with over 866,000 customers. The company believes that if they can reduce arrears significantly in this area, it will have a positive impact on their overall revenue collection.
The initiative is expected to improve GWCL’s financial sustainability and provide better services to customers. The company is optimistic that with the implementation of these strategies, they will be able to reduce arrears and improve revenue collection, ultimately benefiting the company and its customers.
Mutawakilu concluded that the company is not looking for ways to lock up customers who are unable to pay, but rather working to ensure that everyone pays their fair share. He urged customers to take advantage of the electronic payment systems and pay their bills on time to avoid any inconvenience.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
