The Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU) has issued a stern ultimatum to the government and management of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), threatening to "advise ourselves" if illegal demolitions and encroachments on the company’s properties in the Ashanti Region are not stopped by the end of the year.

In a press release dated December 12, 2025, the Union stated that despite high-level interventions, including appeals to the Government Transition Committee and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, private developers have intensified the destruction of staff bungalows and seizure of company lands.

PUWU’s General Secretary, Timothy Nyame, who signed the statement, framed the situation as a direct threat to the provision of potable water in the region.

He argued that the targeted properties house critical management and operational staff essential for maintaining an uninterrupted water supply.

"This concerted attack by private land prospectors demonstrates a clear disregard for due process," the statement read. "The demolition of company bungalows... reflects a troubling disregard for the critical role Ghana Water Limited plays."

According to the Union, the crisis has escalated from the demolition of a single bungalow last year to several key properties being either destroyed, encroached upon, or under threat. PUWU fears that without immediate state intervention, all GWL assets in the Ashanti Region could be lost.

The Union emphasised that these residences are not mere accommodations but are integral to operational readiness. "These residences are not mere accommodation units but integral to ensure operational readiness and rapid response of Management, technical, and security personnel," the release stated.

This standoff occurs against a backdrop of persistent challenges to Ghana's state-owned utility assets and recurring tensions over land acquisition. The Ashanti Region, in particular, has seen numerous disputes over land ownership between state institutions, traditional authorities, and private developers.

PUWU warned that any industrial action it is forced to take would inevitably disrupt water supply, and squarely placed the blame on authorities for anticipated inaction.

"In that event, management of Ghana Water Limited and the Government must not apportion blame to the workers or their Union," the statement cautioned.

"The responsibility will rest squarely with those who, despite clear notice and opportunity, failed to act to protect public assets."

The Union has set a firm deadline of December 31, 2025, for authorities to enforce the law, protect GWL properties, and halt the alleged harassment of its staff. It called on the public to support its fight, stating, "Our struggle is not against the public; it is for the public."