The already limited water supply to communities within the Teshie–Nungua corridor of Accra has further deteriorated following the continued closure of the Teshie–Nungua Desalination Plant due to outstanding financial obligations.

Areas most affected by the worsening shortage include Teshie, Nungua, Baatsona, Spintex, Sakumono, La and nearby neighbourhoods. The desalination facility, which treated seawater into potable water and served these communities, was taken out of operation by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in October 2025.

At the time, GWCL explained that the suspension was necessary because of unresolved contractual issues between the company and the plant’s operators, as well as long-standing lapses in essential maintenance. The shutdown, according to the utility provider, was intended to prevent additional legal complications and to guarantee the safety of the installation.

GWCL had assured residents that efforts were underway to quickly resolve the challenges and resume operations, while interim measures would be introduced to lessen the impact of the closure. A statement signed by the company’s Head of Public Relations, Stanley Martey, expressed regret over the inconvenience and promised swift action to restore normal supply.

However, months later, the situation has not improved. On January 8, 2026, GWCL issued a water distribution timetable as pressure mounted from affected residents and the crisis deepened. Despite the rationing plan, observations from the impacted communities indicate that access to water remains severely limited, forcing households to rely on water vendors or travel long distances in search of supply.

There is growing uncertainty over whether the desalination plant will resume operations, particularly as the government did not allocate funds in 2025 to support the facility, leaving it idle and deteriorating. Unlike the previous administration, which provided financial backing for the plant’s operations, the current government has yet to commit resources to keep the facility functional.

Available records show that in 2024, the Ministry of Finance under the former government paid US$13 million to supplement GWCL’s contributions to ensure the plant continued operating. Attempts by GWCL to secure funding from the finance ministry in 2025 to sustain water delivery to beneficiary areas have reportedly been unsuccessful, placing the company under significant strain.

As a result, public pressure continues to mount for urgent and lasting interventions to address the persistent water shortages, regardless of the rationing measures currently in place.

Background

Commissioned in 2015, the Teshie–Nungua Desalination Plant was built to produce approximately 13 million gallons of safe drinking water daily by treating seawater, serving communities along Accra’s coastline.

The facility was intended to supply water to an estimated 500,000 residents in Teshie, Nungua, Baatsona, Sakumono, parts of La Dade Kotopon and surrounding areas. The US$126 million project was completed in February 2015 with support from Abengoa Water of Spain and Japan’s Sojitz Corporation, and was officially inaugurated on April 17, 2015, by the President of the Republic of Ghana.