By Murtala Issah
The Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) has directed the management of the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) in the Northern Region to resolve the ongoing water crisis affecting Tamale and its surrounding communities. The directive aims to prevent potential security challenges as frustrations among residents continue to grow.
The Regional Minister, Adolf Ali, disclosed that the NRCC has received numerous complaints and threats from the public, who are dissatisfied with the frequent water shortages in the city. On Monday, March 3, 2025, the Minister convened a meeting with GWCL officials to investigate the causes of the recent water shortages in Tamale.
According to Mr. Ali, the persistent lack of water has become a security threat, and urgent measures must be taken to ensure sustainable water supply. He emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that complaints have been pouring in through various channels, including text messages and group visits to his office, with some citizens threatening to stage demonstrations.
“Whatever we can do to step up the pumping of water, let us do it. Complaints have reached my office in different forms—some have sent text messages, while others have come in groups, threatening demonstrations. This meeting is to prevent a situation neither of us wants to see,” the Minister stressed.
The Tamale Water System, which was originally built in 1972, has only undergone one major expansion in 2008. Officials from GWCL attribute the water shortages to aging infrastructure and a rapidly growing population that has outpaced the system’s supply capacity.
The Regional Production Manager of GWCL, Ing. Albert Nyeteng, revealed that the demand for water in Tamale currently stands at 90,000m³, while production is only between 35,000m³ and 38,000m³. Due to this shortfall, the company has been forced to ration water.
Ing. Nyeteng stated that the long-term solution to the crisis is the construction of the Yapei Water Project, which will significantly improve water supply in Tamale and its environs. He assured the Minister that GWCL is actively working to enhance supply in the short term and appealed for government support to fast-track the Yapei Water Project.
As part of his efforts to assess the situation firsthand, the Regional Minister visited the water extraction point at Nawuni and the treatment center at Dalun. The government and GWCL are expected to collaborate on sustainable solutions to prevent further disruptions to water supply in the region.
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