The acute water shortage that has bedevilled Dzodze should be blamed squarely on the Nana Addo led government which has failed to pay the Community Water Management Board despite the huge financial support and loans they have received to combat the covid-19 pandemic.
The government owes the Water Board an amount of Ghc 425,000 for three months of free water supplied per an independent audit. Consequently, the bill has piled up for a year running into millions of Ghana Cedis owed by the government to the Community Water Board. This has made it difficult for the company to maintain its machines and equipment, making the supply of water to thousands of people who depend on the water very difficult.
The failure of government to pay the Water Board since April last year, brings to question the commitment level of the government to the Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG -6) which seeks to ensure access to clean water by all. This SDG is under serious threat since most residents of Dzodze do not have access to clean water as a result of failure of government to pay for the free water the people used during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic.
The water shortage is not only affecting the health sector, the hospitality industry etc but it is also affecting academia as well. Students are exposed to lots of risks such as waking up as early as 3 am or 4 am, walking for 1-3 kilometers through lonely paths and bushes in search of water.
The lack of access to water in Dzodze is most unfortunate and regretable as lactating mothers find it difficult to have access to clean water for bathing their babies, washing and cooking. Others to have to resort to buying a Kuffuor gallon of water at Ghc 2.00 from delivery trucks or tricycles, thereby exposing them to other forms of health hazards since much of this water is untreated.
The NDC Volta is calling on the government to urgently pay the Community Water Management Board to solve the disturbing water problem in Dzodze.
We are equally calling on the government to fast track the phase three of the five district water project and the provision of water to Ho township and parts of South Tongu.
Signed:
Sorkpa K. Agbleze
(Regional Communication Officer)
James Torsu Galeagbelime
( Ketu North Communication Officer)
