FLOWING WITH TECHNOLOGY: THE Ghana Water Company App REVIEW

The usual way of paying for water bills in Ghana is either walking or driving to the nearest Ghana Water Company (GWC) revenue office in a suburb or a third party revenue collection point to join a queue and then hand over cash to a human revenue collector.

Ghana Water Company App

With the launch of a GWC app hopefully this bill payment process will be much less painful and more convenient.

Downloading and Installing the app:

The Ghana Water Company app is available on iOS and Android. The iOS app has a file size of 37.3MB which shouldn’t take much space on your device.

Account Registeration & Verification

As a first time user, you need to create an account using your active phone number and a new password after which you’ll receive a 4-digit OTP code to verify the number. This code is time-bound. However, it takes quite some time to come through your phone but you can use the SMS feature below the code fields to activate your account.

To log back into your account, the app uses your active phone number and password you used to create the account as well as biometrics such as your FaceID and fingerprint scan.

Add An Existing Ghana Water Account

Check your paper water bill for your water bill meter account number and input that into the empty field for Customer Account Number. Provide an optional Alias for the meter especially if you own more than one water meter. Provide an optional digital address in the last field. Click on Add Account.

Meter Account Verification

At this stage, another OTP is sent to the registered phone number under the water meter. If per chance you live in a rented home or apartment, you can check with your landlord/landlady for the code. The OTP is time bound hence you need to have a quick response from the property owner. Just like the account registeration OTP, this code delays in being sent.

Bill Payments

The GWC app has digital payments for user bill payments; MTN MOMO, Vodafone Cash, AT Money, Visa and MasterCard Debit Card. Once you input the amount of money to pay, you can choose from any of the payment platforms above. Enter your Momo wallet details or VISA card details if that’s your preffered choice. There’s no e-levy charges when using MOMO to pay for your water bills via the app.

Water Consumption Tracking

The app provides bill statements for tracing previous payments as well as a portal for lodging complaints about water-related issues. Hopefully, it will also be a reliable app for sending out service alerts and notifications for Ghanaian homes.

Personally, my user experience during the account activation wasn’t great due to the delayed sending of the OTP. After several painful tries, I finally gained access to the app and tested out payments using my MTN Momo number. Payment was pretty seamless and quick with the user only having to enter their MOMO pin to verify payment. The GWC app quickly reflected this payment as well in the Live Updates page. The User Interface is seamless and smooth without any glitches.

Complaints

Lodge your complaints within the app on any water relayed issues such as leakages, a burst pipe in your neighborhood, meter damage etc. Hopefully customers don't have to wait weeks before issues are addressed. The app however doesn't state if maintenance services provided are charged for.

Personal recommendations

My recommendations would be for account sign-up to be improved especially where the OTP is concerned. This app has great potential if only payments on the app would also reflect on the paper version sent to most homes i.e if that’s still being sent out. Also complains lodged on the app should be duly addressed in an efficient manner.

The ease, security and convenience of the GWC app will bring relief to Ghanaians who don’t have to queue to pay their water bills.