Growing concerns over the unregulated activities of private water suppliers have triggered calls for sweeping reforms to bring structure and accountability to Ghana’s water sector.
A Board Member of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission and Deputy Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress, Dr. Kwabena Otoo, has warned that the absence of a comprehensive legal framework is allowing unchecked operations in water production and distribution.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, he highlighted the proliferation of private tanker operators and producers who operate outside effective regulatory control, raising serious questions about water quality, pricing, and sourcing.
He noted that while Ghana Water Limited remains the main public provider, numerous private actors are extracting water from underground and surface sources—particularly in areas like Tema—without proper monitoring.
Dr. Otoo contrasted the situation with Ghana’s power sector, which benefits from a clearer regulatory structure, arguing that the water sector lacks similar oversight mechanisms.
He cautioned that the current system poses risks to public health and fairness, stressing that a well-defined regulatory regime is needed to ensure quality standards, transparent pricing, and accountability across the industry.
Without urgent intervention, he warned, the sector could continue to operate in a largely unregulated environment, undermining consumer protection and sustainable water management.
