Water company to introduce prepaid meters

The Public Relations Director of GWCL, Mr Michael Agyemang, told the Daily Graphic that the metering service would first be piloted in some communities in Accra and Kumasi

“We are looking at localities that have very good flow of water but are not introducing them in distressed areas where people are not getting water,” he said.

He added that a committee had been set up to see to the successful implementation of the service, which is intended to curtail the physical and commercial losses incurred by the company.

“The system would allow for an efficient use of water and reduce the huge bills as people will now pay per their consumption,” he said.

Mr Agyemang mentioned that the company was currently undertaking projects across the country, most of which would be completed by the end of the year.

“So we believe that when all these projects are completed, there will be enough water and the project of prepaid meters will be successful,” he added.

Reactions

However, a question posed to the public on their views on the new directive brought out some mixed reactions.

For Kojo Ellimah, a journalist and development planner, the introduction of the prepaid meters would not solve the problem of the GWC.

“If the company can search within and correct their own administrative and technical issues, there will be no need for this exercise,” he said.

“The wastage associated with water production and supply is unacceptable, and I don’t think resorting to the use of prepaid meters will solve the problem. lt will rather increase water-related diseases for poor communities that cannot access water,” he added.

Another protester, Bless Ahiawor, a student, said the problem facing GWCL was not financial but an administrative one.

He said the GWC should address anything but focus on how to take care of its pipelines to reduce the rate at which water was being wasted in the various communities.

“They should also focus on their information system so that they respond swiftly to complaints from the public, especially those about broken pipelines, to prevent a lot of water gushing out,” he added.