Total number of 748 million people do not have access to improved drinking water - Chief Manager of GWC


The Acting Volta Regional Chief Manager of Ghana Water Company, Philip Dwemena-Boateng says a total of 748 million people do not have access to an improved drinking water source in the country. 

He said about 1.7 billion people are currently living in river basins where water use exceeds recharge leading to the desiccation of rivers, depletion of groundwater and degradation of ecosystems in the country.  

Mr. Dwemena-Boateng make the observation today at this year’s World Water Day celebration at Kpeve in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region. It was themed “Water and Sustainable Development”.

Mr. Dwemena-Boateng noted that the global water demand will increase by 55 per cent by 2020 as countries develop and population grow. He said the economic loss from the inadequate delivery of water and sanitation is estimated to 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product. 

According to Mr. Dwemena-Boateng 2.5 billion people currently lack access to improved sanitation with over one thousand still practicing open defecation.
 
Water is vital for reducing the global burden of disease and improving health, welfare and productivity of populations. 

According to Mr Dwamena-Boateng the region is undergoing an electricity crisis known as TSIKPLO TSIKPLO popularly “DUMSOR”, which is having a huge effect on the people, industries and the country’s economy in general. 

There are currently three hydro-electric dams in Ghana Akosombo Dam , Bui Dam, Kpong dam. 

However, according to Mr. Dwemena-Boateng these dams are not functioning properly due to the low water level. The dams presently have low water level now due to the insufficient amount of rainfall.  

Again there is a fall in the flow of water from upstream following the construction of dams in Burkina Faso on an important water source to the Volta Lake. 

The Kpeve Headworks Station Manager Daniel Gezele said that the Station supplies 2.5 million gallons of water daily but due to the low voltage it has reduced to 1000.  

Apart from fish farms located around the Head Works, there are also farms, mainly cassava farms, raising the possibility of agro chemicals being used even though this was not verified.
 
Some of those around the area wash and bath in the lake. Mr. Gezele noted that the low lift water machines molded in 1977 has broken down this make the work more difficult. 

The Regional Director of Environmental Protection Agency, Togbe Akliku Ahorne stressed the importance of water in reducing of disease and improving health and welfare of the people. He also attributed the low water level to climate change. He urged the public to make good use of water. 

He asked the pupils to go back to educate their peers, friends and parents on the need to conserve water, which is not a limitless resource and expensive to produce in the potable form. 

An Official of ECG, Bernard Tetteh said the erratic rainfall at the three dams is also the cause of the dumsor. 

The Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Ebenezer Ofori-Boateng noted that 2.5 billion people have no access to adequate bathroom. It is an acknowledged fact that water is an essential ingredient for sustaining life on earth. 

The international community, national governments, city authorities, local communities and individuals, are now awakened to the fact that supply of safe water can no longer be taken for granted. 

Some years ago, it was thought that only people in rural communities faced the problem of accessibility to safe water. But now residents of urban centres particularly in developing countries are more than ever before being faced with the problem of easy access to safe water.  

In Volta Region most houses even in old settlements do not have adequate sanitary facilities. Some residents then resort to what is popularly known as “free range.” 

Others also go to the extent of defeacating in polythene bags and disposing them indiscriminately. The MDG target is to reduce by halve the population of people without access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation by the end of the year. 

The objective is to focus attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change and natural disasters on urban water systems. 

The pollution and degradation of water sources and biodiversity coupled with the effects of floods, have now become common in most of communities in the region. 

The situation poses a major challenge for the provision of safe water and improved sanitation services.
 
Appropriate management of water and provision of sanitation will save millions of lives and prevent enormous suffering from malaria and other diseases. He said about 63 point 7 per cent of the total population in the region have access to water. 

He said about 63 point 7 per cent of the total population in the region have access to water. 

World Water Day was first celebrated on March 22, 1993 it was instituted by the United Nation following the declaration of Agenda 21 at its Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 1992. 

The Day seeks to draw global attention to critical water issues such as importance of fresh water resources, advocate for sustainable management of fresh water. 

The day also seeks to highlight the millions of people without access to safe water for drinking and the role of gender in family access to safe water. 

GBC