Tamale water crisis bites harder - Disrupts Ramadan observance

Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, has been hit with a severe water crisis for the past three months, compelling residents to rely on untreated water sources for domestic activities.

The situation has made life unbearable for residents, particularly Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan, as they struggle to find water for the observance of the religious obligation.

Beyond that, schoolchildren, especially those in the second-cycle institutions, are also bearing the brunt of the water crisis.

On a daily basis, the students throng the town with their gallons in search of water. This disrupts academic activities in the schools.

With taps running dry for months, some residents have resorted to purchasing water at exorbitant prices.

A 25-litre "Kufuor gallon" of pipe-borne water now sells at GH¢5, while untreated water from unsafe sources such as dugouts costs GH¢3.

This has placed a heavy financial strain on households, especially those with low incomes.

Many fear the outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea due to the reliance on unsafe water.

Concerns

Checks by the Daily Graphic indicate that areas such as Sagnarigu, Gumani, Gurugu, Kukuo, Tuutingli, Lamashegu, Koblimahigu and Jakarayili are the worst affected.

Some tricycle operators fetching water to supply to residents

Some of the residents who spoke to the Daily Graphic said the water crisis was disrupting economic activities, as they spend productive hours in search of water.

A resident, Yakubu Bamunu, said her tap had not been flowing for about three months now, compelling her to buy untreated water at an exorbitant price for domestic use.

She said because such water was not wholesome, she depended on sachet water to perform ablution and other religious rites.

Another resident, Sulemana Amishaw, said: "If Ghana Water Limited (GWL) opens the taps in my area, within some few hours they shut it again without telling us the reason."

She, therefore, appealed to authorities to intervene and find a lasting solution to the perennial water crisis.

Water rationing

For the past months, the GWL has been rationing water to residents of Tamale and its environs in the wake of the crisis.

The situation has been attributed to ageing infrastructure and a rapidly growing population that has outpaced the system’s supply capacity.

Established in 1972, the Tamale Water System has only undergone one major expansion in 2008.

At a recent engagement with the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, on the situation, the Northern Regional Production Manager of GWL, Albert W. Nyeteng, explained that the water demand had outstripped supply, exacerbating the crisis.

“Tamale requires 90,000 to 95,000 cubic metres of water per day, but currently, we can only produce 35,000 to 38,000 cubic metres,” he stated.

Additionally, he cited emergency repair works involving a 700 mm transmission pipeline fault, which had temporarily worsened the supply shortage.

Mr Nyeteng added that "the water system, built in 1972, has only undergone one major expansion in 2008, the long-term solution is the extension of the Yapei Water Project, which will significantly improve supply in Tamale and surrounding areas."

Tamale water project

In July 2020, then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod for expansion works on the Tamale water project.

The $223,287,979.56 Tamale water supply facility funded by the UK Export Finance and the Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, was expected to produce 29.7 million gallons of water per day.

However, five years down the line, the project is yet to commence.

Writer's email: mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh