Country Profile Regulation Tariffs Ghana is a country in West Africa. It is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, and it borders Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Togo in the east. Ghana is a decentralized country, divided into 16 administrative regions which are further subdivided into 216 local authorities. These local authorities are known as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), depending on their population size. Currently, there are six Metropolitan, 49 Municipal and 161 District Assemblies. Country Overview Year Figure Population 2021 32,833,031 Country Area (km2) 2021 238,530 GDP (billion USD) 2021 77.59 GDP per capita (USD) 2021 2,363.3 World Bank Income Group 2021 Lower middle Income World Bank Region 2021 Sub-Saharan Africa Source: World Bank Data - Ghana Water and Wastewater Sector Structure In Ghana, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are responsible for the provision of water and sanitation services within their respective areas of jurisdiction, including the planning and implementation of projects. However, in reality, the MMDAs play a minor role in the urban water supply, which is dominated by the national water service provider Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). The GWCL is the state-owned water utility responsible for drinking water supply in urban areas. It currently operates 88 urban water supply systems throughout the country, covering 77% of urban population. Urban population currently accounts for 58% of the total population in Ghana. Centralized wastewater services are very rare and present only in three main cities (Accra, Tema and Kumasi), serving a small percentage of the population. Drinking water supply and sanitation in rural areas and small towns is supported by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) which provides District Assemblies with technical assistance and implementation strategies, along with other support, in order to secure efficient and sustainable water supply and sanitation to rural communities. Authority Level Role Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources National Responsible for formulating water supply policy, overseeing operations of the national water utility GWCL, sourcing for funding from external support agencies and coordinating sector investment plans. Water Resources Commission (WRC) National Governmental body that has overall responsibility for water resources management in Ghana. It is composed of the major stakeholders involved in the water sector. Public Utilities Regulatory Commission National Independent regulatory authority that monitors urban drinking water quality and water utility sector in Ghana. Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) National State-owned limited liability water utility that is responsible for urban water supply throughout the country. Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) National Facilitates the provision of safe drinking water and related sanitation services to rural communities and small towns in Ghana. Number of WSS Service Providers: 1 Ownership Public Service Type Water Supply Geographic Scope National The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) was established in 1997 under the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act as a multi-sector regulator to control the provision of electricity and water utility services. The establishment of the Commission was part of the Government of Ghana’s utility sector reform process. The PURC is an independent body and is not subject to the control of any authority in the performance of its functions. The Commission however submits annual operational and financial reports to Parliament. Along with other tasks, PURC is continuously working on ensuring the financial sustainability of the urban water systems by setting the water tariffs to reflect full cost recovery. Mission To build a credible and sustainable utility regulatory regime that protects the stakeholders’ interests. Water and Wastewater Regulations Legislation and Policies Year Description Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act 1997 Provides for the establishment of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to regulate and oversee the provision of utility services by public utilities to consumers and to provide for related matters Water Resources Commission Act 1996 Established the Water Resources Commission as the lead entity in charge of water resources management, policy, and regulations. Water Use Regulations 2001 Sets out regulations for the issuance of permits or the grant of water rights for specified water uses. Local Government Act 1993 Assigns MMDAs the responsibility to provide sanitation services. Community Water and Sanitation Agency Act 1998 Established the Community Water and Sanitation Agency to facilitate the provision of safe water and related sanitation services to rural communities and to provide for connected purposes. Areas of Regulation Areas Water Services Regulatory Authority (ARRU) Tariff Calculation Yes Tariff Approval Yes Licensing Water and/or Wastewater Service Providers No Business plans approvals No Performance indicators monitoring Yes Economic Data Collection Yes Technical Data Collection Yes Utility Date Tariff Ghana Water Company Limited 2023 Tariff A more complete list of tariffs can be found at IBNET Tariff Database - Belize