A joint team of police and Ghana Water Company (GWCL) officials has arrested an 18-year-old man suspected of stealing water meters in parts of Accra.

The arrest follows numerous complaints from residents about missing meters, which have caused water shortages in Adentan for several weeks. Police believe the stolen meters are either sold as scrap or reused illegally.

In the Adentan-Pantang community, many households are facing long water shortages due to these thefts. This problem worsens the difficulties of an area already struggling with limited water access.

For months, officials have reported stolen meters, stop cocks, and safety valves, important parts used to measure water use and bill customers correctly.

Communications Manager for the Water Company Limited, Nana Yaw Barnie, stated that the public must stay alert and report any suspicious activity involving water infrastructure.

“Thieves often leave the water meter but steal the stop cork and safety valve, wasting water. We get reports of this nearly every week.

Since the start of this year, one district in the Accra East region has lost 60 meters. With 11 districts in total, the problem is widespread.

Stop corks and safety valves, which are costly, are also stolen. For example, an ultrasonic meter costs Ghana Water Company GH₵4,000. 10 stolen meters would cost GH₵40,000.

So far, at least 500 meters have been stolen this year, around 50 per district on average. He cautioned the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity involving water infrastructure.

A Senior Estate Officer at Pantang Hospital in Adentan, David Kesseh, who provided an update on the recent meter theft, urged homeowners to install protective cages around their meters to minimise the menace.

With many meters stolen in the Adentan-Pantang community, a resident, Saheed Usman Larry, shared his plight of dealing with irregular water supply after he suffered theft of his meter.

“Just two weeks ago, on a Monday morning, I noticed the water was running out. I checked my cameras and saw a young man removing the equipment. I sent the footage to the PRO of Ghana Water. Later, the police officer I reported to called me in. They had arrested someone, and when I arrived, I saw it was the same man from my CCTV footage,” he said.

The rise in water meter theft underscores the need for increased community vigilance and stronger protection of public utilities.