$235m Teshie-Nungua desalination debt demands full disclosure

The **Ghana Water Justice Network (GWJN)** has issued a strong call for complete transparency regarding the **US$235 million judgment debt** awarded to **Befesa Desalination Developments Ghana Limited** over the **Teshie-Nungua desalination plant** project. The debt stems from the **Teshie-Nungua Water Purchase Agreement** between **Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)** and Befesa, a contract signed after an unsolicited proposal. GWJN argues this arrangement exemplifies failed private sector involvement in Ghana’s water sector, particularly after repeated community warnings about water quality. Early on, residents, including the **Teshie Concerned Citizens Association**, complained about salty, undrinkable water, while groups like **ISODEC** and **Water Citizens** highlighted the project’s financial unsustainability. The **Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU)** similarly warned successive governments about the deal’s heavy financial burden. GWJN stresses that **Teshie-Nungua residents raised red flags for years** about technical and quality issues yet were ignored. The core concern is clearly financial: if plant failures stem from poor execution, who bears the cost? GWJN insists Ghana must not **pass this debt to ordinary citizens** through higher water tariffs, when many already struggle to pay. Consequently, the network demands full disclosure of all contractual details, including the water purchase agreement, amendments, state guarantees, and arbitration findings. They also call for an **independent public-interest review** to investigate institutional failures and assign accountability without partisan blame. GWJN urges the **government to abandon its rigid PPP ideology** in water infrastructure, arguing lessons from this case must guide future sector investments. Meanwhile, unrelated headlines highlight ongoing national issues – from debtors’ prison actions to voter register disputes – but the Teshie-Nungua debt controversy remains pivotal. This matter demands immediate public scrutiny before financial pressure hits vulnerable households further. Any recovery attempt of the $235m liability must be blocked, emphasizing that **ordinary Ghanaians cannot foot the bill for flawed privatisation experiments**. Ultimately, GWJN’s push for transparency seeks to prevent repeated errors in Ghana’s water sector policymaking, ensuring communities regain control over essential services like water delivery across towns like Accra.