Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, says the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) will for the next three months serve customers with non-electronic payment bills.

This follows measures by government to absorb water utilities for the months of April, May and June to reduce the economic burden on citizens in the wake of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the minister, the GWCL will be sending SMS messages with bills to consumers but will at the end of the message indicate water supply details and usage.

“The GWCL will be sending SMS messages with bills but there will be a message at the bottom indicating to consumers to check how much water they’re using and how much water is being supplied,” Cecilia Abena Dapaah said this in press briefing on Tuesday, April 7.

“The message will also contain information indicating that government is fully paying for this bill to reemphasize its resolve to absorb utility bill for water supply,” she added.

The Minister reiterated the move by the President was in line with the importance of water in these critical times.

“We need water to wash our hands, cook our food, wash our bodies and to make sure we practice personal hygiene,” she added.

Madame Cecilia Dapaah also directed landlords and property owners across the country to desist asking for water bills from their tenants for the next 3 months.

“No landlords should take monies for water bills from their tenants, this is because government has absorbed all the cost for the next 3 months. Don't charge tenants for water,” she instructed.

She also asked the Ghana Water Company Limited not to send out arrears owed for the last 3 months to avoid confusion among Ghanaians.

In his fifth address to the nation on April 5, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo instructed all water tankers (publicly and privately owned) to mobilise to ensure that there is constant water supply to all vulnerable communities.

“The Ghana Water Company Ltd and the Electricity Company of Ghana have been directed to ensure the stable supply of water and electricity during this period. In addition, there will be no disconnection of supply,” he noted.