Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has deferred its hearing on Ghana Water Limited (GWL) and ordered Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Ahmed Ibrahim and Managing Director Adam Mutawakilu to appear in person, after the Auditor-General’s Report showed the utility spent GH¢5.167 billion in 2024 against revenue of GH¢2.109 billion — a shortfall of about GH¢3.06 billion.
The committee halted the session this week even though other GWL officers, including the Deputy Minister, were present. It said the key decision-makers must be in the room to answer questions on the company’s finances.
According to the Auditor-General’s findings cited at the hearing, GWL’s long-term liabilities rose by 26.7% to GH¢10.497 billion, while current liabilities climbed 24.9% to GH¢3.908 billion. Revenue, meanwhile, fell slightly from GH¢2.113 billion in 2023.
No new date has been announced for the resumed hearing.
Ghana Water liabilities rise to about GH¢14.4 billion
Taken together, GWL’s current and non-current liabilities stood at about GH¢14.4 billion at the end of 2024, up from about GH¢11.4 billion a year earlier.
The rise in current liabilities was driven mainly by higher payables, the report noted.
Non-current assets grew by only 1.3%, from GH¢10.849 billion to GH¢10.993 billion, reflecting additions to property, plant and equipment.
Ghana Water financial figures: 2023 vs 2024
- Revenue: GH¢2.113 billion (2023) → GH¢2.109 billion (2024), down about GH¢4 million
- Expenditure (2024): GH¢5.167 billion
- Shortfall (2024): about GH¢3.06 billion
- Current liabilities: GH¢3.129 billion → GH¢3.908 billion (up 24.9%)
- Non-current liabilities: GH¢8.286 billion → GH¢10.497 billion (up 26.7%)
- Non-current assets: GH¢10.849 billion → GH¢10.993 billion (up 1.3%)
PAC chair questions Ghana Water’s repeated borrowing
GWL management told the committee that much of the spending went into replacing ageing equipment at water treatment plants across the country. The committee was not convinced.
PAC Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare said the same reason had been used to justify loans for years. “From 2017 to 2024, I can count the number of loans that we’re taking on behalf of Ghana Water with the same explanation,” she said.
She also raised doubts about whether the company earns enough to repay what it borrows. “Ghana Water ends up not being able to pay the loans, and then it sits on the back of government,” she said.
Turning to the officials present, she said the hearing would resume “another time when the MD, the minister and you (the Deputy Minister) can come.”
Why the PAC deferred the Ghana Water hearing
The committee said the postponement gives the Minister, the Managing Director and GWL management time to study the concerns raised in the Auditor-General’s Report.
It expects them to return with clear policy decisions and explanations on the company’s spending, revenue and growing liabilities.
The PAC has taken a similar approach with other agencies flagged by auditors, including when it moved to summon officials over a GH¢8.2 million unexecuted “Toilet for All” project payment.
What it means for water consumers and taxpayers
When state-owned utilities cannot service their loans, the debt often falls back on central government, and ultimately on taxpayers. That is the risk the PAC chair flagged.
For households and businesses, GWL’s finances matter because they affect its ability to maintain treatment plants, replace old pipes and keep water flowing reliably.
A widening gap between spending and revenue may also add pressure for government support or tariff reviews, though no such decision has been announced.
What happens next for Ghana Water
Minister Ahmed Ibrahim, MD Adam Mutawakilu and other GWL officials are expected to appear before the PAC on a date yet to be fixed.
The resumed hearing is expected to examine GWL’s expenditure, revenue and liabilities in detail and respond to the issues raised by the Ghana Audit Service.
Key details at a glance
- Who: Public Accounts Committee of Parliament and Ghana Water Limited
- What: Hearing deferred; Minister and MD ordered to appear in person
- 2024 expenditure: GH¢5.167 billion against revenue of GH¢2.109 billion
- Shortfall: about GH¢3.06 billion
- Total liabilities: about GH¢14.4 billion, up from about GH¢11.4 billion
- Non-current liabilities up 26.7%; current liabilities up 24.9%
- Next hearing: date not yet announced
FAQs
Why did the PAC postpone the Ghana Water hearing?
The committee said the Minister and Managing Director had to be present to answer concerns in the Auditor-General’s Report, so it deferred the hearing until they can attend.
How much debt does Ghana Water Limited have?
The Auditor-General’s figures show current liabilities of GH¢3.908 billion and non-current liabilities of GH¢10.497 billion at the end of 2024, about GH¢14.4 billion combined.
Who is the Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited?
Adam Mutawakilu is the Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited. The sector minister is Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources.
In summary, Ghana Water Limited spent more than twice what it earned in 2024 and saw its liabilities climb to about GH¢14.4 billion, prompting the Public Accounts Committee to demand answers directly from the sector Minister and the company’s Managing Director at a hearing yet to be scheduled.
