The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Adam Mutawakilu, has identified Kasoa and Budumburam as major hotspots for illegal water connections, including unauthorised operations by some sachet water producers.

Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show, Mr. Mutawakilu said the prevalence of illegal connections has contributed to rising levels of non-revenue water, which have increased from 40–45% in previous years to 52% currently.

“Yes, I can say that Kasoa is one of the hubs of illegal connections… sachet water is being produced illegally,” he stated.

The GWL boss explained that the company is reviewing the effectiveness of its Loss Control Team, which has been tasked with detecting and shutting down illegal connections. He noted that the rising non-revenue water levels suggest the team’s current structure and operations may no longer be fully effective.

“When we came, we assessed the Loss Control Team, but why are we recording 52% non-revenue water now? That means something is wrong,” he said. “We need to evaluate whether it is still relevant today. If you are bringing in the Revenue Enhancement Team, do you still need the Loss Control Team to be there?”

Mr. Mutawakilu revealed that activities by the Loss Control Team have been temporarily paused for about two months to allow a trial run of the Revenue Enhancement Team’s approach. The utility aims to identify more efficient methods to curb water theft and recover lost revenue.

Illegal water connections, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas like Kasoa, have long posed a challenge for GWL. Non-revenue water — which includes theft, leaks, and metering inefficiencies — reduces supply to legitimate customers and strains the utility’s finances.

The managing director emphasized that illegal connections not only deprive GWL of revenue but also exacerbate water shortages in neighbouring communities reliant on a consistent supply.

He called on stakeholders, including industrial and commercial operators, to regularize their water connections to ensure sustainable service and protect the utility’s resources.

“Non-revenue water is a serious issue, and we are trying all options to tackle it,” he said. “We must act decisively to safeguard water supply for the growing population in Greater Accra and beyond.”