The Sanitation and Water Resources Minister has revealed that government has paid over GH¢500million to the Ghana Water Company Limited, out of the cost incurred on providing water to various households for free, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at a media briefing in Accra Wednesday, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, revealed that the full cost of the water supplied for free, is GH¢896,291,330.72.

“Let me add that the Ministry of Finance is still in the process of paying debts and currently they have already paid over 500 million Ghana cedis,” she spoke in Twi in an answer to a question posed by a journalist.

She assured that the balance will be paid, once the figures have been validated.

“We don’t just make payments, what we do is that we also validate and verify to make sure the figures are equal with that of the supplier, then we advise finance to make payment. So it’s a process,” she explained.

She said Management of the Ghana Water Company Limited is pleased with the process. She therefore applauded the Minister of Finance for providing the funds.

The free water supply was part of the relief packages introduced by government in April 2020 during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce the financial burden on citizens resulting from the partial lockdown imposed on the Greater Accra Region, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi.

During the period that the free water supply lasted, landlords and tanker/water service providers were asked to refrain from charging consumers because government would absorb the cost.

Madam Dapaah also disclosed that Ghana has made strides towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals on Water and Sanitation by 2030. This has been done through provision of water and toilet facilities to homes.

She, therefore, admonished Ghanaians to maintain healthy environmental sanitation and preserve water bodies.