Tamale (Northern Region), 8 Dec. ’98 – The Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC), is to provide meters for all consumers as from next year to streamline the corporation’s revenue generating machinery. Mr Charles Adjei, Managing director of the GWSC, speaking in Tamale yesterday, said the project will begin with an initial installation of 40,000 metres to face out the flat rate billing system. He was addressing staff of the corporation in Tamale as part of a working visit to the Northern Region. Mr Adjei said the GWSC spends about 174 million cedis monthly for the treatment and supply of water in the region but realises only 67 million cedis in revenue. He attributed what he called ”this negative trend,” to illegal connections, non payment of bills and inefficient supply system. The visit follows the recent meeting the corporation had with a cross section of the public in the region to find out ways of improving the revenue situation. Mr Adjei said the 22 billion-cedi rehabilitation of the water system in Tamale Municipality will be completed next June. The project funded largely through a Japanese government grant will increase water supply from 2.7 million gallons a day to 4.3 million gallons a day. It involves the construction of booster stations and the rehabilitation of pipelines as well as the rehabilitation of the Nawuni intake point and the Dalun treatment plant. Mr Adjei said the issue of tariff is critical in view of the additional investment of 85 million dollars that the government has to make to expand the Tamale water supply system. Mr San Nasamu Asabigi, Deputy Regional Minister, assured the managing director during a meeting with him that the regional co-ordinating council will assist in impressing on the people, the need to pay for essential utility services.
