Hohoe Municipal’s Water and Sanitation Crisis: A Call for Urgent Action

Access to safe drinking water and decent sanitation is not a luxury. They are fundamental necessities for human health, dignity and sustainable development. Yet, for many residents of the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region, the daily struggle to obtain potable water and access decent places of convenience remains a pressing challenge that deserves urgent attention.

Hohoe is a rapidly developing municipality with a growing population, expanding businesses, schools, health facilities and residential communities. However, the development of essential social infrastructure has not always kept pace with this growth. One of the most visible challenges confronting residents is the scarcity and unreliable supply of potable water.

In some communities, residents are compelled to walk considerable distances or depend on private water vendors and alternative sources to meet their daily needs. For households with limited financial resources, purchasing water regularly can place an additional burden on already stretched family budgets. Women, children and other household members may also spend valuable time searching for water instead of engaging in productive activities, education or other responsibilities.

The consequences of inadequate access to potable water extend beyond inconvenience. Where safe water is unavailable or unaffordable, households may resort to questionable water sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Poor water supply can also affect personal hygiene, food preparation and environmental cleanliness.

Closely linked to the water crisis is another concern that requires serious municipal attention: the inadequate availability of decent and hygienic places of convenience.

In some parts of the municipality, public toilets and other sanitation facilities are either insufficient, poorly maintained or inaccessible to sections of the population. The situation becomes particularly concerning in busy commercial areas, transport terminals, markets and densely populated communities where the demand for sanitation facilities is high.

The absence of adequate toilet facilities can encourage open defecation and other unsafe sanitation practices. Apart from being an affront to human dignity, such practices contaminate the environment and can contribute to the spread of diseases.

A clean and accessible toilet is more than a physical structure. It is an important public-health intervention. Proper sanitation protects water sources, improves environmental cleanliness and reduces exposure to disease-causing organisms. It also contributes to the dignity and safety of residents, particularly women, children, older people and persons living with disabilities.

The Hohoe Municipal Assembly, Ghana Water Limited, traditional authorities, private sector actors, development partners and community members therefore need to consider these challenges as a shared responsibility.

Sustainable solutions will require stronger collaboration, proper planning, adequate investment and effect ive monitoring.

The Municipal Assembly should prioritise the expansion and rehabilitation of water infrastructure, particularly in communities experiencing persistent shortages. Existing water systems must also be properly maintained to reduce frequent breakdowns and interruptions.

There is equally a need for increased investment in public sanitation facilities. Public toilets should be strategically located, properly designed, adequately maintained and managed in a manner that ensures cleanliness and affordability. Markets, lorry stations, schools, health facilities and other high-traffic locations should receive particular attention.

The municipality should also intensify public education on water conservation, environmental sanitation and the proper use and maintenance of public facilities. Communities must understand that government investment alone cannot solve the problem if residents do not take responsibility for protecting and maintaining facilities provided for their benefit.

The private sector and development partners could further be encouraged to support water and sanitation projects through corporate social responsibility initiatives and other partnerships. Traditional leaders and community-based organisations can also play an important role in mobilising residents and promoting responsible sanitation practices.

The challenges of potable water and sanitation should not be treated as isolated municipal problems. They are directly connected to public health, education, productivity, economic development and the overall quality of life of the people.

Hohoe deserves infrastructure that reflects its importance as a growing municipality and a major economic and social centre in the region. Residents should not have to choose between spending scarce household income on water and meeting other basic needs. Neither should anyone be forced to use unhygienic or undignified places of convenience because appropriate facilities are unavailable.

The time has therefore come for water and sanitation to receive stronger priority in the development agenda of the Hohoe Municipality. Stakeholders must move beyond discussions and develop clear, measurable and adequately funded interventions.

Providing reliable potable water and decent sanitation facilities is an investment in the health, dignity and future of the people of Hohoe.

The people deserve nothing less.
By Emmanuel Sevor
Public Health Expert & Social Commentator
kofisevor@gmail.com

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