Water Shortage Hits Accra East

AN acute water shortage has hit the eastern parts of Accra following the inability of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to meet the demand of the population.

While some areas are experiencing intermittent supply, others have not had water at all for over five weeks.

Areas affected include the Ghana Institute of Journalism the State House Estate area and La-Apapa.

The situation has compelled residents in the affected areas to travel distances in search of water.

The Police Headquarters, Ghana National Fire Service Headquarters, British High Commission, Kofi Annan Information and Communications Technology Centre, State House, Osu and La, get intermittent supply.

Talking to the Times, Matthew Mac-Kwame , Administrator, GIJ, said if the shortage was not resolved soon, it could lead to an epidemic among the over 400 student population.

He said that attempts to get the GWCL to rectify the situation had been met with "there is no water in the system."

A resident at the State House Estate said that the estate had not had water since October, last year.

Nii Maale Adjei, a resident of La Apapa, said the area had been without water for the past six months.

He said that numerous complaints to the GWCL had not been heeded.

The General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association Mr Bright Blewu, said the shortage at the Ghana International Press Centre was underming activities of the association.

Mr Ekow Blankson, Deputy Director, Operation of the Ghana National Fire Service, said that the water flow in the area had been on and off for the past five years.

That, he said, had affected fire hydrants adding, "we sometimes have to go to Nima to fill our tenders."

He attributed the low pressure of the water level to the ever increasing needs of the public.

When contacted, Mr Cephas E. Oguah, Accra East Regional Engineer of the company said that the GWCL was working hard to rectify the situation.

The shortage is part of a general problem facing the GWSL as the water being produced falls far short of the ever increasing need of the population, he said.