The Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) has revealed that old water pipes in urban areas of the country are part of the reasons recent water supply challenges to households.

Dr Clifford Braimah disclosed on the Super Morning Show, Tuesday that some pipelines are as old as 55 and 92 years and are long overdue for an upgrade. 

The GWCL has been receiving complaints for weeks now on little to no water supply in particular areas.

He explained that the supply challenges are not only a result of old pipes but also the fact that buildings by other parties are being constructed on land with pipelines belonging to the Company.

“The way we also use our land is a problem. Today if Ghana Water Company wants to replace a lot of the pipes, the compensation we would be paying would be more than the cost of the project. 

"All our areas with pipelines have been built on now,” he disclosed speaking on the Super Morning Show, Tuesday.

“All demarcations for utility lines are provided and the various municipal and metropolitan assemblies are aware. We go one day [to a line site] and somebody has put a structure there. Sometimes you want to replace the pipeline but you have to pay compensation to the person.”

“We don’t have jurisdiction over those kinds of things. It’s the local authorities. We have access to our land but they are the people who give permission for the buildings.”

The MD says that even though the GWCL is doing everything possible to upgrade the old pipelines, he said, “as a developing country resources are limited. If this had been done over the years as we are doing now, I’m sure I would not have been confronted with this huge challenge.”

“We are doing our necessary best to make sure that we get the challenges while looking beyond today, what we would also leave as a legacy for people,” he added.