Ghana Water Limited Requests 281% Tariff Adjustment for 2025–2029
Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has applied to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for a steep tariff adjustment, proposing an increase of 281 percent from GH¢5.28 per cubic metre to GH¢20.09 per cubic metre. If approved, the new rate will take effect during the 2025–2029 regulatory period.
The company explained that the revision is critical to paying down debt, meeting rising operational costs, and addressing challenges such as pollution of water sources and foreign exchange pressures on imported chemicals and equipment. GWL warned that without the adjustment, sustaining reliable supply and funding new infrastructure will be increasingly difficult.
At a public hearing, Michael Klutse, GWL’s Monitoring Manager, said the company cannot continue providing dependable service at current tariff levels.
The water utility’s request comes amid similar proposals by electricity providers. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is seeking a 224 percent increase in distribution charges, while the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) is requesting a 171 percent rise. Both companies have also proposed the creation of a dedicated tariff to fund the provision and maintenance of street lighting across the country.
In its submission, NEDCo further called for the scrapping of the lifeline tariff, which provides relief for low-income households, arguing that the arrangement is no longer sustainable given its high fixed and variable costs.
