The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has blamed prolonged power outages for the severe water shortage in the Cape Coast metropolis and surrounding areas.
“We cannot guarantee when full water supply will be restored as we cannot control the power issue,” GWCL said.
“With the energy supply being intermittent, the system struggles to build up pressure to have adequate capacity to pump water everywhere.”
“This explains why water doesn’t come out of all the taps in hilly areas. This is basically due to low pressure.”
GWCL’s Central/Western Regional Public Affairs Officer Nana Yaw Barima Bunny refuted claims that the situation arose from the city’s long-standing water shortage.
The ancient city has suffered from occasional water outages, but the situation has recently worsened in areas such as Abola, Second Ridge, Apełosika, Aytsewado and parts of Ekong.
Residents told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the situation was negatively impacting their finances, health and hygiene.
Every day, many people are seen on the streets carrying yellow (kufuor) gallons, some crammed into cars criss-crossing the city in search of quality water, at least for domestic use.
Residents rely on purchasing bottled or sachet water for drinking, and sachet water brands of all kinds are dominating the market.
This situation appears to be a golden opportunity for tricycle riders (Pragya or Aboboya) who are profiting from the exorbitant rates of various water delivery services.
A family of five living in West End’s Second Ridge said they buy 10 gallons of water worth GHC60 every three days.
“The situation is depressing. Our house has been without water for almost a month, but GWCL refuses to tell us why,” said Madam Justina Alaba Tum, a family member.
“Think of the amount of fuel it takes to move around a city in search of a constant flow of water.”
In Apełoshka, hostel manager Reginald Tette Amartey said the water situation was a big blow to investment.
In all this, he said, GWCL continues to charge exorbitant water bills which are mind-boggling to say the least.
“For several months now, my facility has not had regular water supply, yet I continue to be paid a high bill, and the bill continues to rise,” Amartey said.
“We buy GHC1000 of water every two weeks, but how can we stay organized? We have to do something to rectify the situation to stay in business.”
Abomination Wells homeowner Madam Dorinda Arthur lamented the permanent rationing of tap water that has plagued the community for years, despite paying her monthly water bill. .
Madam Arthur, a former GWCL employee, said the situation had wiped out her hard-earned meager income, especially at this time of year.
Emmanuel Odoom, another resident of Ntotoo near Cape Coast Castle, said: I cannot afford to buy water twice a day, so I am forced to take a bath around noon every day. ”
Other residents lamented that the country’s economic hardships have made the situation even worse, and that they are struggling to live within their monthly budget.
They said the situation forced them to use the services of tanker drivers, whose fees were exorbitant.
Access to potable water is a fundamental right for everyone, but the harsh reality is that an astonishing 14 percent of Ghana’s urban population obtains their water from private entities.
They called on governments to help rectify the situation, especially at a time when attention is focused on global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6.
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