Hackman gives GWCL ultimatum

Nawuni (NR), June 1, GNA - Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Works and Housing on Wednesday gave a six-week ultimatum to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to put immediate measures in place to ensure adequate and continuous water supply to the Tamale Metropolis and its environs.

He said the problem that was depriving people from the Tamale Metropolis and its environs of continuous water supply was a minor one, which could be corrected within days and needed an urgent address to correct the anomaly.


The Minister gave the ultimatum when he visited the Nawuni Water supply station near Dalun in the Tolon/Kumbungu district on Wednesday. The visit was for the Minister to learn at first hand the water supply situation in the northern region and the steps GWCL had put in place to address the pressing problems of supply and how his outfit could be of any help to solve some of the problems.


The Tamale Metropolis had been hit by an acute water shortage the past one month following a breakdown of a component of the only existing water pump, which had been sent for repairs in Kumasi.


The water system, according to GWCL authorities was, installed in 1998 with three pumping machines with the capacity to pump 4.3 million gallons of water a day to serve a population, which was then about 72,000 people.


The population of the Metropolis has now grown to over 300,000 people with only one pumping machine, capable of only pumping 2.8 million gallons of water a day, which is woefully inadequate.

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said, "I am giving you a six-week ultimatum to ensure that the equipment sent to Kumasi for repairs is back to solve the water problem and if you have any other problem let me know."


He said the government would assist the company to purchase new pumping equipment, which was about 250,000 dollars to replace the old one to ensure adequate and continuous water supply to the people. He said the government earmarked about 1.5 billion dollars for urban water supply and Tamale Metropolis is not excluded adding, "We would do everything possible to let water flow."


Mr. Samuel Lamptey, GWCL Managing Director in the Northern Region said his outfit was finding every means possible to ensure that the problem was solved once and for all.


The minister and his entourage also visited the Savelugu water supply project and the Tamale storm Drainage Project at Kukuo, Aboabo and Tishiegu/Sangne.


Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Iddrisu Adam, Acting Tamale Metro Chief Executive and Mr. Issah Ketekewu and Mrs. Cecilia Dapaah, deputy Ministers of Works and Housing accompanied Mr Owusu-Agyeman.