The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) wants parliament to approve funding for the smooth implementation of an ongoing dredging for a water expansion project in Nsawam.
“We’ve had to do the dredging with an unbudgeted fund, because we can’t wait for so long due to the growing hardship of the people. This explains for the reason why they must act fast to approve the funds we need for this project” Head of Communications at the Ghana Water Company Limited told Kasapa 102.3 FM Wednesday.
Residents in Nsawam and its environs are struggling to access water for sometime now following an acute water shortage which has hit the municipality. Prices of Water in Nsawam Adoagyiri have shot up by over 500 percent as a result of the current crisis.
Kasapa FM’s Benjamin Amuzu reports school children in Nsawam and Adoagiri have had to abandon school and trek long miles in search of water.
Many have predicted an outbreak of cholera in the area, if nothing is done to suffice the needs of the people in relation to potable water.
Martey in an interview with Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM said the last time the area experienced drought was ten years ago, adding that this was mainly caused by the extension of the dry season.
“It hardly occurs and human activities are a contributory factor, amidst other challenges” he said.
However, he said the company is expanding the network in water supply and adding on more pipelines to meet the growing demand for water in the future.
“At the moment we’re looking at three solutions to the acute water shortage in Nsawam -Geographical studies to explore the possibility of ground water so we can construct more mecahnised boreholes; Dredging the area so that we can impound more water when the rain sets in, and also serving them with tankers as a short-term measure.”
But a member of the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, Kwaku Asante Boateng has argued that the company should have rather focused on intra community water connection for sustainable water supply.
“Of course we have one existing plant at Adoagyiri already so given the opportunity couldn’t they have sited this new plant at Weija to pump water to support the existing plant at Adoagyiri?
“In that case depending on the water levels at the two ends we wouldn’t have faced this huge problem in water supply.
“It’s regrettable to say that you’ve been failed by the weather, when you know that you don’t control the weather.”
He nonetheless said parliament will move to approve the necessary funds required to give Nsawam residents a relief in accessing potable water.
