Water Rationing, Did We See It Coming?

On April 8^th 2017, I released an article which was published by ghanaweb, newsghana and modernghana concerning galamsey activities and its socioeconomic effects on the economy and livelihood. To prevent the unbearable from occurring was the reason the government embarked on an agenda to eradicate galamsey (Small scale mining) which was a major detriment to our water bodies as they were being polluted on daily basis. For the past few years, the country has faced and experienced electricity rationing which ended up collapsing various notable businesses and companies, caused layoffs and thus increased existing unemployment, contributed to a fall in GDP and many other direct socioeconomic effects.

Evidently, in the year 2012, the percentage annual GDP growth rate was 9.293 % and reduced to 7.313%, 3.99%, 3.92% and 3.6% in the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively when electricity rationing (Popularly termed as Dumsor) was prevalent. Subsequent to this, the GDP per capita (in current US$) which was 1629.800222 in the year 2012 also experienced a decline to 1432.227943, 1361.113905 and to 1513.461034 in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. The figures improved in 2016 because it was an election year and probably, the government in power wanted to leave a reputation remarkable enough to attract votes. But the remaining years aside 2016 were periods the country experienced power rationing which crippled the nation economically.

Now in 2018 after the fight against galamsey, the Ghana Water Company claims the rate of water pollution in the country has become prevalent which demands rationing of water from January till the country experiences it’s raining season. The communications director at the Ghana Water Company has thus blamed the recent shortage of water in the country on bad farming practices, illegal felling of trees and galamsey activities, the water company spokesperson said if the rains do not come soon enough, the entire country would have to compromise on the little available by way of rationing. But excuse me to say, water isn’t any good which has a substitute to say you can use its alternative in place of it. Secondly, in my article titled “ Galamsey: Its effect on water as a basic necessity”, I highlighted on few importance of water to help my readers understand why water though has a small monetary value performs functions which are very useful and irreplaceable. Some of the important role played by water in our society, home and businesses include:

For washing
For cleaning
For drinking or used in the preparation of food
Used by our industries to aid production (as a factor of production)
To aid medication at the hospitals etc

If the Ghana Water Company decides to intensively start water rationing as it has for the past weeks, it is going to pose a greater challenge to some communities and residents living at places marked as residential areas. In such places, it will be difficult to get water to go by daily activities from elsewhere. Some communities and areas can resort to wells etc but those living at east legon and its environs would have to go through this unfortunate ordeal for the speculated period of the exercise. It has a major economic effect as it will go a long way to affect production in the manufacturing sector basically producers of fruit juice and any production which requires the use of water. The Ghana Water Company has also speculated the possibility of the country importing water to support the existing shortage in water supply if activities/situations remain unchanged. Blaming the recent water shortage problem on bad farming practices, illegal felling of tress and galamsey activities will be the same as blaming the ministry of agriculture for being a complete failure.

Per our activities, did we really see this coming as a country? In times where my area or community will be denied water for about four (4) days, how am i expected to provide water for my children, wife and even some for cooking, washing and other activities water can help me perform it better. We currently have goods/services/food including rice we import which are crippling our infant industries and causing huge deficits to the country’s GDP, MUST WE ADD WATER TO OUR IMPORTS TOO?

God lives to glorify his people
Writer: Emmanuel De-Graft Quarshie
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Young Economists for National Development (YEND)
Degraftxclusive.blogspot.com
Accra Central-Connect with Ghana Page
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