Water supply challenges in the Teshie-Nungua enclave of Accra have worsened following the continued shutdown of the Teshie-Nungua Desalination Plant over unpaid debts.
Communities most affected include Teshie, Nungua, Baatsona, Spintex, Sakumono, La, and surrounding areas, where residents continue to experience severe water shortages.
The plant, which converts seawater into potable water for these communities, was shut down in October 2025 by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWL).
At the time, GWL cited unresolved contractual issues with the plant’s operators and inadequate critical maintenance as reasons for the closure, stressing that the shutdown was necessary to prevent further complications and ensure safety.
GWL assured residents that efforts were underway to resolve the issues quickly and restore operations, adding that temporary measures had been introduced to reduce the impact of the shutdown.
However, several months later, the situation has deteriorated.
On January 8, 2026, GWL introduced a water rationing schedule following protests by residents, yet conditions on the ground have shown little improvement.
Many households still lack a regular water supply and are forced to buy water from private vendors or travel outside their communities to access it.
The future of the desalination plant remains uncertain, as the government made no financial commitment in 2025 towards its operation.
Unlike the previous administration, which supported the facility financially, the current government has yet to allocate funds for its upkeep.
Available documents indicate that in 2024, the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Finance under the previous administration, paid US$13 million to support GWL in keeping the plant operational.
Efforts by GWL to secure funding in 2025 have reportedly been unsuccessful, leaving the utility under significant strain.
Amid the worsening crisis, calls are growing for urgent and lasting solutions to the water shortages, beyond the existing rationing schedule.
The Teshie-Nungua Desalination Plant, commissioned in April 2015, was designed to produce 13 million gallons of treated water daily, serving about 500,000 residents along the coastal belt, including Teshie, Nungua, Sakumono, Baatsona, and parts of La Dade Kotopon.
The US$126 million project was completed in February 2015 with support from Abengoa Water of Spain and Sojitz Corporation of Japan.
