Chief of Abrewankor appeals for potable water and road safety interventions

Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The Chief of Abrewankor in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, Nene Addey I, has renewed calls for urgent government intervention to address the community’s long-standing lack of potable water and growing road safety concerns, particularly affecting schoolchildren.

Speaking at a community engagement, Nene Addey I disclosed that despite his personal efforts to provide a solution, Abrewankor remains without access to safe drinking water.

According to the Chief, he personally financed and supervised the laying of water pipes from Asaman to Abrewankor approximately three years ago. However, the final connection required to make the system operational has not been undertaken by the Ghana Water Limited, despite several appeals.

“What we need most is water,” the Chief said. “I led the community to initiate potable water by laying the pipes all the way from Asaman to this community, but what remains is for the water to be connected. Unfortunately, all our appeals to Ghana Water Limited have fallen on deaf ears.”

The absence of potable water has forced residents, including pupils of the Abrewankor Basic School, to depend on a nearby stream, which the Chief described as contaminated.

Although a few boreholes exist in the community, he noted that they are in poor condition and insufficient to meet the needs of the population.

Beyond water challenges, Nene Addey raised serious concerns about road safety, particularly for schoolchildren who are compelled to cross a busy highway to fetch water. He warned that speeding vehicles pose a constant threat to lives and called for the immediate installation of speed ramps in the community.

“The pupils do not have water, and they are forced to cross the highway to fetch from the stream. This threatens their lives due to speeding vehicles,” he stated.

“Some communities received speed ramps during the construction of the road, but all our appeals have been ignored. We care deeply about the safety of our children.”

The headteacher of the school revealed that the Abrewankor Basic School recently recorded a near-fatal incident when a vehicle veered off the highway and ran into the school compound, narrowly missing pupils.

Appealing directly to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Yilo Krobo, Francis Addo Akumatey, Nene Addey I urged the assembly to act with urgency. While he declined to impose timelines, he stressed that delays could have dire consequences for the community, especially schoolchildren.

“I cannot give the assembly timelines, but they must act fast,” he said.

Residents of Abrewankor continue to hope that authorities will respond swiftly to address the water crisis and implement safety measures to prevent potential tragedies along the highway.