Water crisis hits Offinso North communities

Three major communities within the Offinso-North District, Akomadan, Afrancho and Nkenkansu, have been hit by severe water shortage following the destruction of the main 10-inch diameter pipeline at the Tanoso head-works.

Water supply to some parts of the Techiman Municipality including Tanoso and New Techiman (Nyiemu) has also been disrupted.

The pipeline was reportedly wrecked by a heavy-duty truck about three weeks ago, and has not yet been fixed.

This is the second time in about two-and-a-half months that the population in the affected communities is facing water crisis.

Mr. Samuel Kojo Appiah-Kubi, District Chief Executive (DCE), described the situation as serious and very disturbing.

The Assembly, he said, has spent about GHc100,000 to replace damaged pipelines barely a month ago, and once again would have to look for money to ensure that the people have access to clean and safe drinking water.

He disclosed after touring the head-works that a joint stakeholders’ meeting of the two adjoining assemblies was going to be convened to look for an immediate solution.

Mr. James Kennedy Andam, acting Head at the head-works, could not tell how much the repairs would cost, but said the amount of money would be substantial.

The damage was quite huge and the cost was likely to be high, he added.

The Tanoso dam, built in 1969, supplies about 3,000 cubic metres of water daily.

Some of the residents who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) appealed to government to act quickly to restore the water supply system to protect them from contracting water-borne disease.

One of them, Mr. Daniel Nkrumah, said the present circumstance where they were drinking from contaminated streams and ponds posed a health risk.