Ghana Water Company Limited Seeks Tariff Hike From GH¢5.28/m³ to GH¢20.09/m³
Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has applied to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for approval of a 281 percent increase in its water tariff, proposing a jump from GH¢5.28 per cubic metre to GH¢20.09 per cubic metre for the 2025–2029 regulatory period.
The utility firm said the steep adjustment is required to address its debt overhang and manage rising operational costs, including the pollution of raw water sources and foreign exchange pressures on the importation of equipment and treatment chemicals.
According to GWCL, the current tariff regime is inadequate to sustain water supply or finance the expansion of critical infrastructure.
At a PURC public hearing on the proposal, Michael Klutse, Manager in Charge of Monitoring at GWCL, stressed that “the company cannot continue to deliver reliable services under the current tariff levels.”
The request comes as electricity distributors also press for significant tariff reviews. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is seeking a 224 percent increase in its distribution charge, while the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) has applied for a 171 percent hike, citing unsustainable operational costs.
Both utilities have further proposed the introduction of a dedicated levy to fund the provision and maintenance of street lighting nationwide.
NEDCo, in addition, has called for the scrapping of the lifeline tariff that cushions low-income households, arguing that the arrangement has become financially untenable due to rising fixed and variable costs.
