Guinness Ghana denies being disconnected by GWCL over debt, clarifies situation

Guinness Ghana Limited has come out to deny media reports suggesting that it has been disconnected by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) over debt owed for water supplied. In a statement released by the company, it refuted claims that its Accra and Kaase breweries had been shut down due to the alleged disconnection. The statement confirmed that the company has been fully compliant on all bills to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) based on the industrial rate, pending a resolution of its petition to the Public Utilities Commission (PURC) on the arbitrary re-categorisation by GWCL.

According to reports, the Ghana Water Company Limited on Tuesday disconnected water supply to Malta Guinness Company Limited at Achimota in Accra over non-payment of bills. The beverage company is yet to pay a GH¢6.7 million water consumption debt, the water distribution company said. The Regional Chief Manager of the Accra East Region, Ing Emmanuel A. Johnson, spoke to the media after the disconnection, stating that the action was to compel the beverage company to pay its outstanding bills.

Guinness Ghana, on the other hand, stated that it has been engaged in discussions with the Ghana Water Company Limited, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission, and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources since the arbitrary reclassification of the business in the September 2022 tariff adjustments. The company has been waiting for the final investigations and outcomes of its petition before the PURC on the matter. As recent as this morning, a meeting took place between Guinness Ghana, GWCL, and the Minister at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.

For the most part, Guinness Ghana remains committed to adhering to the highest quality standards in brewing great-tasting brands for its cherished consumers and doing business the right way. The company urged the public to disregard the reports of its alleged disconnection and reiterated that its operations at both its brewery sites in Accra and Kaase are still up and running. It is expected that the outcome of the ongoing discussions will lead to a resolution of the matter.