Ghana Water Ltd Inaugurates Governing Council for Water Institute
Ghana Water Limited has taken a significant step toward reshaping the country’s water sector with the inauguration of the Governing Council of the Ghana Water Institute, a subsidiary charged with becoming the leading centre for water-sector training, research and professional development in West Africa within three years.
The inauguration, held in Accra on Wednesday, signals the utility’s ambition to build the kind of institutional capacity that has long eluded Ghana’s water infrastructure. While the country has invested heavily in treatment plants and distribution networks, the human capital underpinning those systems has received far less attention — a gap the Institute is designed to close.
The Ghana Water Institute traces its roots to 1965, when Ghana Water Training Schools were first established to develop the company’s workforce. That modest beginning has evolved into a subsidiary expected to deliver training, research, consultancy and professional development services while fostering innovation across the sub-region’s water and sanitation landscape.
“The establishment of the Ghana Water Institute is not accidental. It is a deliberate strategic intervention aimed at strengthening the future of the water sector and ensuring that Ghana Water Ltd evolves into a modern, diversified and financially sustainable enterprise,” said Eric J. Biliguo, GWL Board Chairman, at the ceremony.
The newly inaugurated council is chaired by Prof Afishata Mohammed Abujaja, with members including Prof Jasper Ayelazuno, Prof Moro Adams, Dr Joseph Kojo Ansong and Dr Nashiru Zulkarnein, who serves as Rector. The team has been tasked with developing internationally recognised training programmes, forging partnerships with universities and research institutions, and generating sustainable revenue through consultancy and knowledge services.
Managing Director Adam Mutawakilu described the move as central to the company’s broader transformation agenda. “The establishment and operationalisation of these subsidiaries reflect our deliberate efforts to strengthen institutional efficiency, diversify revenue streams, enhance capacity development and create long-term value for the people of Ghana,” he stated.
Prof Abujaja stressed that sustainable water service delivery requires more than pipes and treatment facilities. Skilled professionals, strong governance structures and a culture of innovation are equally critical. She pledged to pursue partnerships with universities, regulators, professional bodies and development partners to keep the Institute responsive to evolving sector demands.
The inauguration comes at a time when Ghana’s water sector faces mounting pressure from rapid urbanisation, climate change and aging infrastructure. Ghana Water’s recent emergency repairs at the Barekese Water Treatment Plant underscored the operational challenges that demand a more skilled and resilient workforce.
The council now has a three-year window to transform the Institute into a centre of excellence. Whether it can deliver on that mandate will depend on securing adequate funding, attracting top-tier faculty and building the kind of industry partnerships that translate academic output into practical solutions for water utilities across West Africa.
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