Ghana has signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish infrastructure firms to advance a major drinking water project for eastern Accra, marking the start of technical studies for a scheme aimed at easing supply pressures in the fast-growing capital corridor.
The agreement, signed between the government and Turkey’s Hacıoğlu Holding and Koçak Çevre, sets out a framework for feasibility, environmental and engineering work on the proposed project.
The companies are led by Yasin Hacıoğlu, chief executive of Hacıoğlu Holding.
Officials say the initiative is designed to boost potable water supply in the eastern part of the Greater Accra Region, where rapid population growth and urban expansion have placed increasing strain on existing infrastructure.
Under the terms of the memorandum, the Turkish firms will undertake feasibility studies, an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), and detailed engineering designs for a treatment plant expected to produce around 300,000 cubic metres of water per day.
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Ghana’s Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, said the project forms part of broader efforts to address rising demand for water in the capital.
“This initiative is aimed at strengthening supply systems in response to growing demand,” he said, according to local media reports.
The project remains at an early development stage, with no final construction contract or financing arrangement yet in place.
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Under the agreement, Ghana’s state utility Ghana Water Limited will support the process by facilitating access to sites, technical data and financing pathways.
The proposed raw water source is the Lower Volta River, with a preferred intake point downstream of Kpong, near Asutsuare, according to project documents.
Plans also include the construction of a transmission pipeline stretching approximately 90 kilometres to deliver treated water to demand centres in eastern Accra.
Yasin Hacıoğlu said the project is being structured under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, a framework commonly used in large infrastructure developments where private investors finance, build and operate facilities before transferring ownership to the state.
“This is a 300,000-cubic-metre drinking water treatment plant for eastern Accra,” he said. “The water will be drawn from the Volta River, and there will also be a 90-kilometre transmission line.”
The agreement is valid for two years, during which the parties are expected to complete studies and negotiate a potential final contract.
Any binding agreement involving financial commitments or foreign participation will require approval under Ghana’s statutory processes, including parliamentary ratification.
The project highlights Ghana’s ongoing efforts to attract international partners to help bridge infrastructure gaps, particularly in water and sanitation, where demand continues to outpace supply in urban areas.
Access to reliable water services remains a key challenge in parts of Accra, despite ongoing investments, with population growth and climate variability adding pressure to existing systems.
If implemented, the new scheme could significantly expand supply capacity and improve distribution to underserved communities, although its progress will depend on financing, regulatory approvals and the outcome of technical studies.
For now, the signing of the memorandum signals the start of a process that could lead to one of the capital’s largest water infrastructure projects in recent years.
