2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

GHANA PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Ghana
Ghana is seeking to develop a five year lease contract for the Ghana Water Company Limited
(GWCL), supported by a US$103 million grant from the World Bank. The five-year Urban Water
Supply Project aims to provide a more reliable water supply for more than eight million people in
Ghana's main towns. The total project cost is US$120 million. The Nordic Development Fund will
provide US$5 million and the Government of Ghana is providing the remaining US$12 million. This
strategy has developed through a series of consultations held since 1996.
GWCL had 320,000 customer connections in 2003. Typically, people in urban areas without water
connections pay ten times the GWCL rate for their water. Some 15% of Accra is covered by the
sewerage network, mainly in the business district. While 20 satellite systems have been developed in
Accra, most of these have broken down.
2003 Total Improved Percentage
Population Water Served
Urban areas 8.4 5.1 61%
Rural areas 11.8 5.2 44%
Total 20.2 10.3 51%
Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has been able to invest some US$1.50 per capita per year
since the mid 1990s. Ghana established a multi utility regulator in 1997 as part of its overall utility
reform package.
The original plans drawn up by the World Bank in 1995-96, anticipated a concessional contract for
GWCL. By 2000-01, these were for a lease. In 2003-04, it became evident that a management
contract of no more then five years duration was the most appropriate way forward.
Source:
World bank (2004) Project appraisal document on a proposed credit to the Republic of Ghana. Report Number 28557-GH,
World Bank, Washington DC, USA
101 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006