By Jones Anlimah
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. James Gunu, has assured residents of the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region that water tankers will be deployed to supply water to schools, hospitals, and other key institutions as a temporary measure to mitigate the impact of the ongoing water shortage in the Municipality. This intervention follows an announcement by Ghana Water Limited (GWL) of another disruption in supply due to repair works at the Kpeve Headworks.
The latest water crisis has left many residents frustrated, as they barely enjoyed a week of restored supply after earlier repair works from January 2 to 6, 2025, before taps ran dry again. Businesses, households, and institutions are struggling to cope, with many forced to rely on unsafe water sources or purchase water at exorbitant prices.
The recurrent nature of the water shortages has sparked sharp criticism from residents, who feel neglected in their plight. “This is getting out of hand. How do they expect us to live without water? We just had a brief relief, and now we are back to square one. If this continues, we may be forced to take action,” a frustrated resident in Ho lamented.
With demand far outstripping supply, residents have called for immediate and lasting solutions to prevent future disruptions.
Mr. Gunu, accompanied by the Acting Managing Director of GWL, Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, and chiefs from the Asogli Traditional Council, inspected the Kpeve Headworks to assess the situation first-hand and chart a way forward.
Mr. Mutawakilu attributed the persistent shortages to delays in procuring customized pumps necessary to stabilize the water supply. “We have requested two new pumps since December, but those types of pumps are not readily available on the shelves. You don’t just go and buy them; they have to be customized to specifications before production and supply. We are expecting that by March, the two pumps will be in, and that will help us stabilize the water supply,” he explained.
He further assured residents that the government is treating the crisis with urgency. “President Mahama is very, very concerned about the shortage of water in Ho and is determined to ensure that the Ho Water Expansion Project is initiated as soon as possible,” he added.
During the inspection tour, Mr. Gunu emphasized the urgent need for expansion works to address the widening gap between water demand and supply.
“The daily demand is about 30,000 cubic meters a day, but the pump is able to supply only 11,000 cubic meters a day. So even as we take steps to repair this one, it’s my prayer that the expansion works go on, and I am going to work closely with the Managing Director to ensure that,” he stated.
The Minister also assured residents of the government’s commitment to addressing the immediate crisis. “I am also assuring our people that we are going to start supplying water with tankers to institutions in the Ho Municipality, including schools and hospitals, to help mitigate the situation,” he announced.
While the promise of tanker supplies offers temporary relief, many residents insist that only a long-term solution will prevent future hardships. Some have called for alternative water sources, infrastructure upgrades, and improved maintenance strategies to ensure a reliable water supply.
“This should be a wake-up call for authorities. We need long-term investments in our water system. Temporary fixes will not solve the problem,” said Jerome Nettey, a resident of Ho.
As the crisis persists, residents remain uncertain about when their water woes will end. For now, they can only hope that the promised interventions materialize while awaiting a lasting solution to the perennial water shortages in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region.
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