'Stop the denial of water rationing’ - GWCL told

Non-governmental organisation, Arocha Ghana has asked the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to stop the denying that there is water rationing across the country.

Water supply to some parts of the country have for the past week been erratic raising suspicion of water rationing but the GWCL announced in a statement that the company was experiencing some challenges with water supply in Accra and most parts of the country.

It thus cautioned consumers to be measured in their consumption of water while the company addresses the challenges.

However, a statement signed by Arocha Ghana’s National Deputy Director, Daryl Bosu, says that currently “the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) is running a water rationing regime so as to ensure equal access to potable water available to the consuming populace.”

According to Arocha Ghana, upon listening to the PRO for the GWCL, Stanley Martey, these past weeks, “the current crisis is as a result, again, of the dry spells brought on by the harmattan, illegal tree felling, and farming activities right into our streams and rivers.”

The statement adds that the 2012-2025 Water Sector Strategic Development plan has one big flaw in the area of recognizing and safeguarding the natural water systems.

Arocha Ghana is, therefore, cautioning that if steps are not taken to ensure the protection of the country’s natural vegetation and water bodies we would be hit by an acute water shortage by 2023.

The statement called on President Akufo Addo’s administration to, first, make it clear to the public the details of the agreement signed with China in a possible bauxite mining in the Atewa Forest and, secondly, to help abrogate such an agreement as the forest serves as a source of drinking water to some five million Ghanaians.

“We are compelled to question the policy and development plan of government to turn Ghana’s hydrological gem, Atewa Forest, the source of water for 5 Million Ghanaians, into a low-grade bauxite mine pit […] We also ask President Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and his Vice, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, whether Ghanaians do not deserve to know the details of the agreement you have signed with the Chinese?” the statement asked.