The Minority Caucus in Parliament has asked the water producing companies to come clear on challenges facing them.
The Caucus yesterday made a clarion call on Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and Community Water and Sanitation Agencies to let the country know of any financial and technical challenges they are encountering.
Their request is as a result of the water shortage currently facing inhabitants of Accra during the COVID-19 era where water is needed.
According to the Minority represented by a Ranking Member of the Works and Housing Committee, Mr Emmanuel K Bedzrah, one of the preventive measures/protocols for COVID-19 is regular washing of hands with soap under running water.
Unfortunately, residents in Accra are confronted with an acute water shortage. Areas such as Adenta, Madina, Teshie, La, Achimota, Ashaiman, Tema and Kasoa (just to mention a few) have been hit with shortage for the past weeks, he observed.
Mr Bedzrah wondered how practicable it would be for people in the affected areas to wash their hands under nonexistent running water, and added that the shortage is literally rendering the country’s fight against the pandemic, not only ridiculous, but also fruitless.
“The Minority Caucus would like to find out from the government why water promised Ghanaians, particularly those living in Accra and its environs, is not being made available as announced? Secondly, are the water producing companies i.e., Community Water and Sanitation Agencies, Ghana Water Company Limited facing any technical or financial challenges?
“Accra, which is the most populous city, and for that matter the epicenter of Coronavirus cases in Ghana, has had its situation compounded over the past week with a nauseating water shortage, which is really biting hard, without any explanation from the authorities in charge.
“The situation, which seems to be getting out of hand in areas such as Adenta, Madina, Teshie, La, Achimota, Ashaiman, Tema and Kasoa (just to mention a few), is literally rendering our country’s fight against the pandemic, not only ridiculous, but also fruitless.”
Mr Bedzrah observed that ironically, the shortage is being experienced at a time that the President had announced to the whole nation, as part of mitigating measures against the disease, a three months (i.e. April, May, June) period of free water to households.
It would be recalled that the free water to citizens was announced by the President during one of his nationwide addresses on the country’s preparedness against the Covid-19 on Sunday 5th April 2020.
The President’s directives was not limited to fixed pipes, but also included mobile water tank delivery to homes where there are no water supplies through public pipes.
Subsequently, the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources corroborated the President’s announcement by providing details of the directives to the general public.
Most Ghanaians, especially residents in and around Accra, were excited when the President announced these measures.
The Ranking Member, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ho West, indicated that announcing a populist programme such as free water to households may earn a government loud applause, and may be useful for propaganda purposes, but it should take steps to deliver on these flamboyant promises.
The Ho West legislature said that the Covid-19 pandemic is still disrupting lives, so the President should ensure that he delivers on his promises.
The post Are you facing any financial or technical challenges? – Minority questions GWCL, others appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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