Mahama Unveils $150m Solar Farm, Pilots Private Water Bill Collection
Photo credit- Unsplash
Dawa, Greater Accra —President John Dramani Mahama has announced the introduction of a private-sector pilot scheme to improve the collection of water bills, a move he says will boost efficiency and accountability within the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
The initiative, which will be tested in select small-town water systems, aims to leverage private firms to repair, distribute, and manage bill collection for communities struggling with unreliable supply. “PDS was not a bad thing; it was simply handled wrongly,” President Mahama noted. “There’s something to be said for injecting private-sector efficiency into public utilities. These companies will operate under PURC tariffs, they won’t be able to charge beyond what Ghanaians can afford.”
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for a $150 million industrial solar farm at Agotor, in the Ningo-Prampram Constituency, the President said the project represents Ghana’s push toward sustainable industrialization.
The 200-megawatt facility supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank will supply affordable renewable power to industries in the Dawa Industrial Enclave.
The project will be rolled out in two phases with Phase One (100 MW) expected to be operational by December 2026 and Phase Two (100 MW) to follow in 2027.
At full capacity, the farm will generate 300 GWh annually, accounting for 2.5% of Ghana’s total electricity needs and supporting the government’s goal of achieving 10% solar energy by 2030.
“This project will set our country firmly on the path to green, reliable, and industrial power,” the President declared after inspecting the bulk power and water facilities at the site.
President Mahama also revealed plans for an ambitious 20-year “Green Digital City” project, spanning from the Dawa Industrial Zone through Saglemi and Bundase to the Volta and Eastern regions.
The project will integrate residential, commercial, and industrial zones into a digitally connected smart city, symbolizing Ghana’s industrial and technological transformation. “This will be a well-laid-out city industrial enclaves, residential communities, a commercial and financial district all integrated into a modern, green digital hub for our nation,” he said.
Feasibility studies and design work for the new city are expected to begin before the end of 2025.
Mahama emphasized that private involvement in public utilities will remain regulated by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to protect consumers. The pilot in the water sector, he said, will run alongside efforts to expand private participation in power distribution and bill collection.
“These are not privatizations; they are partnerships for performance,” the President clarified. “We’re ensuring that efficiency doesn’t come at the expense of affordability.”
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