Decentralise GWCL operations — CONIWAS
THE Coalition of Non-governmental organisations in the Water and Sanitation Sector (CONIWAS) has made a proposition to the government to decentralise the operations of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
In line with the decentralisation concept, CONIWAS is of the view that the supply of water to urban areas be managed at the municipal and metropolitan level, which will involve communities and traditional authorities, with each system being autonomous and owned by the respective agencies.
These were shared at a press conference organised by CONIWAS to address the state of the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) management contract as it rolls to an end in May this year.
The Executive Secretary of CONIWAS, Mr Benjamin Arthur, explained that with that, the GWCL would serve as the regulatory body enforcing operational standards, water quality, monitoring, among other related issues.
He said the GWCL would also be responsible for providing technical assistance for municipalities for planning, budgeting and funds mobilisation to expand their systems.
Mr Arthur explained that that was among options that CONIWAS was proposing to the government, since the government had not stated categorically what would be done after the management contract with AVRL came to an end in May.
He said the proposal was drawn from a two-year assessment of citizens on the urban water situation in the country.
The second proposition by CONIWAS is a bulk water supply system run and distributed by privately contracted companies.
Mr Arthur explained that under that system, the GWCL would still operate the urban water supply systems but its operational mandate would be limited to water production only.
He said the bulk water supply system had been tested to a limited scale in places such as Savelugu in the Northern Region and had proved successful.
He was convinced that the proposed measures would lead to a sustainable solution of the urban water crisis that had plagued the country for decades, adding that since the government had not yet taken a decision, it should create space for and engage citizens to discuss the future of urban water operations.
Mr Arthur, however, acknowledged that some improvement had been recorded in urban water delivery under the management contract.
According to him, total water production increased by approximately 10 per cent between 2006 and 2010, as well as the sale of water which augmented from GH¢100 million in 2006 to GH¢103.9 million in 2007.
He also admitted the fact that water supply to some cities or sections of cities had reportedly been improved, despite a fall in level of service in some parts of the country, between 2006 and 2010.
He, however, quoted the report of a technical audit of the operations of AVRL conducted by Frictner and Associates between September and October 2010 as saying that the company could not meet critical targets in the areas of water quality, water production, reduction in non-revenue water, among others.
Furthermore, from the assessments made by citizens, it was evident that the current production or performance trend by AVRL indicated that customers’ satisfaction and expectation had not been met, he said.
“While access may have improved for some people, a large proportion of the population is still unserved, under-served or poorly served,” he added.
Mr Arthur also said the assessment proved that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) had not demonstrated sufficiently that it had control over water tanker operations in terms of regulating quality of service.
He, therefore, called on the PURC to be more proactive in adopting measures to enhance the quality of tanker service delivery in the country.
In line with the decentralisation concept, CONIWAS is of the view that the supply of water to urban areas be managed at the municipal and metropolitan level, which will involve communities and traditional authorities, with each system being autonomous and owned by the respective agencies.
These were shared at a press conference organised by CONIWAS to address the state of the Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) management contract as it rolls to an end in May this year.
The Executive Secretary of CONIWAS, Mr Benjamin Arthur, explained that with that, the GWCL would serve as the regulatory body enforcing operational standards, water quality, monitoring, among other related issues.
He said the GWCL would also be responsible for providing technical assistance for municipalities for planning, budgeting and funds mobilisation to expand their systems.
Mr Arthur explained that that was among options that CONIWAS was proposing to the government, since the government had not stated categorically what would be done after the management contract with AVRL came to an end in May.
He said the proposal was drawn from a two-year assessment of citizens on the urban water situation in the country.
The second proposition by CONIWAS is a bulk water supply system run and distributed by privately contracted companies.
Mr Arthur explained that under that system, the GWCL would still operate the urban water supply systems but its operational mandate would be limited to water production only.
He said the bulk water supply system had been tested to a limited scale in places such as Savelugu in the Northern Region and had proved successful.
He was convinced that the proposed measures would lead to a sustainable solution of the urban water crisis that had plagued the country for decades, adding that since the government had not yet taken a decision, it should create space for and engage citizens to discuss the future of urban water operations.
Mr Arthur, however, acknowledged that some improvement had been recorded in urban water delivery under the management contract.
According to him, total water production increased by approximately 10 per cent between 2006 and 2010, as well as the sale of water which augmented from GH¢100 million in 2006 to GH¢103.9 million in 2007.
He also admitted the fact that water supply to some cities or sections of cities had reportedly been improved, despite a fall in level of service in some parts of the country, between 2006 and 2010.
He, however, quoted the report of a technical audit of the operations of AVRL conducted by Frictner and Associates between September and October 2010 as saying that the company could not meet critical targets in the areas of water quality, water production, reduction in non-revenue water, among others.
Furthermore, from the assessments made by citizens, it was evident that the current production or performance trend by AVRL indicated that customers’ satisfaction and expectation had not been met, he said.
“While access may have improved for some people, a large proportion of the population is still unserved, under-served or poorly served,” he added.
Mr Arthur also said the assessment proved that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) had not demonstrated sufficiently that it had control over water tanker operations in terms of regulating quality of service.
He, therefore, called on the PURC to be more proactive in adopting measures to enhance the quality of tanker service delivery in the country.
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