Five Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya and Asuogyaman districts in the Eastern region Krobo and Asuogyaman districts are facing water scarcity situation due to disconnection over unpaid water bills.
The affected schools, including Yilo Krobo SHS, Akro Senior High Technical, Anum Presby SHS, Anum Presby Vocational Institute, and Boso Senior High Technical schools were disconnected before the Christmas break.
Despite the resumption of school activities, these institutions have not been reconnected by the water provider, owing to outstanding debts.
Notably, Krobo Girls SHS has managed to settle its GH₵590,000 debt, leading to the restoration of water services.
The prolonged water scarcity has compelled students to endure long queues at on-campus boreholes and sometimes venture outside the campus to fetch water.
Due to pressure on boreholes, some experience frequent breakdowns worsening the woes of students.
Students have expressed concerns about the adverse effects of the water crisis on their studies and are appealing for urgent government intervention to address the situation.
This issue sheds light on a broader challenge faced by public second cycle institutions in the region, with approximately a hundred schools reportedly owing GWCL nine million cedis in unpaid accumulated bills .
The Eastern Regional Office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has previously taken action against 48 SHSs in the region, resulting in the recovery of GH₵326,093 last year.
GWCL explains that these unpaid debts are affecting the financial standing of the company, and efforts to retrieve funds have been hindered by claims from headmasters that the government, responsible for payment as part of the free Senior High School grants, has not fulfilled its obligations.
Not only are the schools facing challenges with water but also electricity as schools on postpaid are threatened with disconnection.
Schools on postpaid are feeling the brunt of delay payment of utility grant by government as some sleep in darkness or borrow money to buy prepaid electricity credit.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/Kojo Ansah
