MCE on Bawku's Perennial Water Shortage

Mr. Abdul-Rahman Gumah, Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, at the weekend urged decisive action on the part of Government to deal once and for all with the perennial water shortage facing the Bawku Municipality and its environs.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Bawku, Mr. Gumah said the most sustainable approach would be for government to make the necessary provision to have water pumped either from the nearby White Volta River or the Tamne Dam to the Bawku Municipality for distribution to consumers.

"The area's current water requirement stands at 5000 cubic meters but what is being provided from various sources so far is just about 600 cubic meters," the MCE said.

He indicated that boreholes could not provide a viable solution to the problem because prevailing financial constraints would not make it possible for the Assembly to provide every community with an adequate number of boreholes. "Besides, the boreholes dry up at the peak of the dry season when the water table goes far down, rendering them ineffective."

The White Volta, however, holds water all year round and is capable of meeting the water needs of the population both for domestic use and for irrigation purposes, the MCE contended.

On development projects, Mr. Gumah stated that the Municipality had received not less than 250 development projects in the education, health, agriculture, social services, water and sanitation sectors since the present government assumed office in 2001.

"All the development we witness today has been made possible due to the return of peace to the Bawku Municipality," said the MCE, who further appealed to residents of the area to continue to sustain the prevailing atmosphere of unity and peaceful co-existence.

Mr. Gumah observed that Bawku was an important entry point into Ghana from neighbouring Burkina Faso, Togo and other countries in the hinterland, and that as part of preparations for the country's 50th anniversary celebration, the Municipal Assembly had initiated a face-lift in the township to give foreigners coming into Ghana a good impression of the country.

He praised the government's School Feeding Programme which, he said, had been very effective in curbing truancy and boosting pupils' retention, in addition to improving the nutrition status of pupils in schools throughout the Municipality.

He also lauded the media for their pivotal role in bringing into prominence issues affecting the people of Bawku, and for promoting the peace process in the area.

GNA