By: Murtala Issah
Tamale is currently grappling with one of its most severe water shortages in recent memory, leaving residents frustrated and desperate for solutions. As the situation intensifies, the management of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has attributed the crisis to outdated equipment and a rapidly growing population in the regional capital.
The Regional Production Manager of the GWCL, Albert Nyeteng in a meeting with the Regional Coordinating Council, explained that, the current population of Tamale has outgrown the water system that was built in 1972.
“Because of the weakness of the pumps, you know for machines, when they work for fifteen years, they will definitely develop inefficiencies. Production has dropped, we are still using the same pumps and population keeps on growing,” he disclosed.
However, many residents have levelled allegations against the GWCL, claiming that staff members are deliberately restricting water flow through the pipes to sell water in tanks at inflated prices. The water scarcity has forced many households into purchasing water from private vendors who charge significantly higher than the standard rates.
Reports suggest that the yellow gallon, popularly known as the “Kuffuor gallon” is going for three cedis while a tanker of water is going for about eight hundred cedis.
A mini tanker mounted on a tractor or Kia truck, goes for three hundred cedis and three hundred and fifty cedis. Whe. GBC news posted a story on the NRCC directing the GWCL to take urgent steps to ensure sustainable water supply, many residents of Tamale welcomed the directive, but urged the NRCC to investigate claims that, some staff of the GWCL are involved in the sale of water to tankers. Some residents turned to social media to express their discontent.
Geoffrey Buta, a resident of Tamale, cautioned the staff of GWCL to “refrain from engaging in private water supply businesses, just as Land Commission staff should not be involved in the private sale of lands. Such practices create conflicts of interest and undermine public trust in these institutions.”
Another resident, Joseph Xiem, said, “there’s no water crisis, Mr Minister. This is the time GWCL staff who own water tankers make money from residents of Tamale. They deliberately deny people water so that they can buy from tankers. Ask yourself, why is it that during the rainy season water flows more than twice a week in most parts of Tamale. But as soon as we enter the dry season, water stops flowing except in places such as Jisonayili, Malshegu and others that are blessed to have water flowing all year round.”
Asene Aloko, said, “GWCL is conniving up with the water tankers suppliers therefore denying majority of people water in the metropolis.”
The Northern Regional Minister, Adolf Ali, who met the Management of the GWCL on Monday, said he has also received complaints about some staff of the GWCL, allegedly engaged in the selling of water at vantage points in the metropolis.
He promised to investigate the allegation, warning that anyone found culpable will face the law.
The Management of the GWCL however maintained that the current shortage stems primarily from outdated infrastructure that is unable to cope with a growing population.
