GWCL uncovers major illegal water diversions at sachet factory in Shai Osudoku

Officials from Ghana Water Limited (GWL) have uncovered two separate large-scale illegal water connections involving a sachet and bottled water production company and a medical facility within the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.

The discoveries were made on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, during an enforcement operation carried out by GWL’s National Revenue Enhancement Taskforce, supported by security personnel. The exercise forms part of a nationwide clampdown on unauthorised water use following widespread concerns over revenue losses.

According to the Tema Regional Communications Manager of GWL, Sampson Ampah, the sachet water factory had devised a sophisticated method to draw treated water without paying for it. He said the team’s surveillance revealed that the operators had completely bypassed their meter.

“When we arrived, it became clear that the factory had been operating with an illegal connection for a long time. The meter had been removed entirely, and water was being channelled straight into their storage tanks,” Mr. Ampah explained.

The factory was reportedly using eight industrial tanks, each capable of holding over 2,000 litres, to store the illegally obtained treated water for its production processes. GWL estimates that the volume of water consumed at the facility represents significant revenue losses.

“This is treated water, and every litre produced must be accounted for. What we have found here shows extensive unauthorised use, which denies the company the revenue required to maintain and expand water services,” Mr. Ampah said.

At the medical facility, GWL officials detected another illegal pipeline, believed to have been in place for nearly five years. Investigators say the hospital had tapped directly into a 21-inch GWL transmission line, diverting water into its underground reservoir without any billing mechanism.

“The connection at the hospital was made straight from our main line and channelled underground. Based on preliminary checks, this setup has been in operation for about five years,” Mr. Ampah revealed.

He added that in both locations, the illegal networks were deliberately engineered to make detection difficult. The taskforce carried out several prior visits, supported by an ambush operation, before the connections could be confirmed.

“Some of these systems are extremely complex, which is why we rely on public support. Our team had to return to these sites multiple times before gathering conclusive evidence,” he noted.

Mr. Ampah encouraged the public to report any suspected illegal connections, meter tampering, or unapproved bypasses. He assured informants that their identities would remain confidential, adding that GWL provides financial rewards for credible information leading to arrests or disconnections.

The two facilities are expected to face sanctions as GWL works to recover lost revenue and prevent further illegal water extraction.