Wednesday, 19th February, 2025
Hon Frank Afriyie
Afadjato South
Mr Speaker, let me celebrate your magnanimity even as I prepare to deliver this Statement, which is largely on the supply of clean water, its relevance, and supply challenges.
Mr Speaker, let me thank you for this highly prized space to stand before this esteemed House to address a critical and urgent issue that transcends the Afadjato South Constituency, where I represent, resonating deeply across the entire nation. Our beloved Ghana is on the precipice of a water crisis that, according to research from the Water Resources Commission, is anticipated to culminate in severe water stress by 2025 if urgent and decisive actions are not taken. This was reported in the March 4, 2022 edition of the Daily Graphic and other media outlets. This prediction is particularly alarming in light of the current cholera outbreak that has gripped our nation, reminding us starkly of the dire consequences that arise from inadequate access to clean water.
Until last weekend, residents from Kpeve, Goviefe, Woadze, Agate, Have, Peki, Bame, Akrofu, and neighbouring communities faced continual challenges in accessing clean water due to the malfunctioning Kpeve Water Treatment Plant since midDecember last year. However, this is merely a microcosm of a much larger national issue that threatens the health, safety, and livelihoods of countless Ghanaians. The statistics reveal an unsettling reality; one in five persons in our nation lacks adequate drinking water. In the Northern Region alone, this figure escalates to one in three, highlighting the glaring disparities in access to one of life's most essential resources.
Mr Speaker, we cannot overstate the importance of clean water, which is fundamentally linked to public health. Studies show that 80 per cent of diseases in Ghana stem from unsafe water and poor sanitation, fueling the alarming rise in water-related illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, and other diseases that disproportionately impact our vulnerable populations. Each attempt by families to secure fresh water, often leading them to abandoned boreholes or unhealthy surface water sources, emphasises the urgent need for a comprehensive national strategy to confront this crisis.
In view of this, permit me to take this opportunity to commend the Volta Regional Minister for his commitment to addressing the urgent needs arising from the Kpeve facility's failure, as well as the efforts of my Colleague from South Dayi, Hon RocksonNelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, who shares a passion for restoring the Kpeve Treatment Plant following its dysfunction. Nevertheless, let it not be forgotten; the struggles faced by our constituents in accessing clean water are mirrored nationwide. As such, it is imperative that we amplify our response and ensure a cohesive approach to restoring and improving our water treatment infrastructure.
Additionally, the looming threat of illegal mining activities poses a grave risk to our water resources and the integrity of our water supply systems leading to the shutting down of several treatment plants across affected areas. These illicit practices not only pollute our water bodies but also threaten the health and safety of communities that depend on these vital resources. The extensive damage inflicted by such activities must reignite our commitment to enforce regulations and safeguard our natural ecosystems.
Mr Speaker, in light of these pressing issues, I sincerely urge this honourable House to take a united stand for the health of our nation by adopting a robust plan of action that encompasses the following:
Nationwide Infrastructure Repair and Enhancement:
Let us prioritise urgent repairs and upgrades of existing water treatment plants across the nation, ensuring that they can meet the demands of a growing population. Additionally, we should expand our distribution networks to guarantee that communities have access to clean and safe drinking water.
Development of a Sustainable Water Management Strategy:
We must collaborate with the Ghana Water Limited and relevant stakeholders to create a comprehensive water resource management plan that prioritises conservation, efficient use of resources, and the implementation of best practices for water extraction and treatment.
Strengthening Regulatory Framework Against Illegal Mining:
We need to take immediate action to combat illegal mining activities that threaten our water resources. These include strengthening enforcement mechanisms, collaborating with relevant agencies, and raising public awareness about the importance of protecting our water bodies.
Mr Speaker, as we engage with these critical issues, we must not forget the lessons of our current cholera outbreak, and from our experience with dried water hydrants, which have shown us how inefficient and inadequate access to water directly inhibits fire-fighting efforts and endangers public safety. We must promote safe water, good sanitation, and hygiene as fundamental rights for all Ghanaians. Time is of the essence, and we have a collective responsibility to put forth solutions that ensure reliable access to clean water for every citizen.
Let us unify our efforts to secure a better future for Ghana, a future where every individual can access safe water; a cornerstone for health, dignity, and national development. Together, let us courageously navigate this path to restoration, resilience, and sustainability for the health of all Ghanaians. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to address such a pressing issue.
Hon Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo
Hohoe
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me first commend my neighbour and brother, Member of Parliament for Afadjato South for this very important Statement.
Water not flowing through our taps is a problem that confronts every constituency and he being my neighbour, I would say I face more problems in my constituency than what he faces in his. Hohoe Constituency and the entire Volta Region have been faced with water shortage because no audit so far from my checks have been done on all our treatment plants.
Mr Speaker, when you come to Hohoe, our treatment plant was built over 20 years ago and no replacement has been done to the machines. The old machines are still being used and the number of people that were there before the plant was built have increased and it is the same treatment plant that is being used to supply water to the people in my constituency, Hohoe.
Mr Speaker, if you come to Hohoe Constituency today, water flows through our taps once a week, that is when we are lucky. The Volta Regional Hospital is located in Hohoe and water flows through their taps once a week. I visited the hospital two weeks ago and visited the morgue, the mortuary attendants have to use the “Kufuor” gallons, walk miles to fetch water before they use it for their daily duties. Now, the wind of cholera is blowing all over and if we do not have water in our hospitals and morgues, I know the problem would be very devastating in the coming days. So, we would plead with the Minister for Works and Housing that they look at the treatment plants all over the country, especially the ones in my constituency in Volta Region, Hohoe, and replace those that need to be replaced and work on those that need to be worked on so that we would have free flow of water in our taps.
Thank you, Mr Speaker and thanks to the Hon Member for Afadjato South for raising this very important challenge facing not only his constituency, but Volta Region and the entire nation as a whole.
Hon Kwame Twumasi Ampofo
Sene West
Thank you, Mr Speaker for the opportunity. Water is very important in our lives and we cannot live without it and it is very challenging to have water in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, if we go to some areas, there is constant water flow for 24 hours but most especially during the dry season, there is a challenge in Ghana and if we do not drink proper water, we know what would happen.
There would be health and sanitation related issues as well as diseases and sickness all due to lack of quality water that you get to drink.
Mr Speaker, I think it is about time we resourced or empowered Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA). The CWSA water serves a lot of rural areas, but, unfortunately, CWSA cannot get loan facility to serve these people. Only Ghana Water Company can access loan. The CWSA basically relies on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other funds, and they are serving masses of the rural areas.
Mr Speaker, if you go to some areas, some of my communities, during dry season, they struggle for water and share same with animals, which is serious, because if there is no water, definitely they would struggle with them. Therefore, it is important for us to pay attention to CWSA. Let us give them power to also access loan, so that they can serve most of our communities in the rural areas. Mr Speaker, I think if you go to Sene West, there are so many rivers around, but we have challenges to get quality water to drink. It is all about money issue, and the CWSA is also in charge of those areas. Therefore, it is about time we found a way of helping those in the community or rural areas to get proper and quality water to drink. Mr Speaker, with these few words, I think it is about time we improved.
Mr Speaker, if you check, the Ghana Water Company Limited always has power to go for loans and there are even challenges with Ghana Water Company Limited which supplies to urban areas and cities. Also, galamsey is also causing our water bodies— It is affecting the CWSA and the Ghana Water Company Limited in the treatment of quality water for us to drink.
Mr Speaker, with this, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity.
Hon Maxwell Kwame Lukutor
South Tongu
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement made by my respected Colleague, Mr Frank Afriyie.
Mr Speaker, I must say that almost all of us in this House would, in one way or the other, associate with this Statement because almost all of us have challenges with getting potable water running through our taps. The irony is that, particularly, for those of us from constituencies that lie along the Volta River from which treatment plants are built to treat water for our use— Unfortunately, for instance, Sogakope, the treatment plant is at Agodorme. The phase one and phase two were constructed, but water is being planned to be extended as far as to Togo.
Mr Speaker, but unfortunately for you and I whose constituencies lie along the main Aflao road, the system is not running along that line, so we have a challenge in Sogakope all the way to your constituency, Akatsi South. So, I would want to plead with the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources that they look at us. How can they be treating water in my constituency and those of us in that same constituency do not have water to drink? There is also another challenge between merging the systems the CWSA and the Ghana Water Company Limited.
Mr Speaker, for instance, currently there is a five-district water system in Adidome, the constituency of my Colleague, Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze, and it runs along the boundary with me. But unfortunately, we cannot have access to that; that flows almost every day. But being the capital town of the constituency, Sogakope sometimes does not get water in the whole of the week, like other Colleagues have just ably articulated, so I have tried, as much as possible, to get these two units merged and to get the water from CWSA to run through the Ghana Water Company system, but there is always a problem with how to merge the systems and allow it to run.
I cannot sit without talking about the challenge I have had in my community, Kpotame, for over 10 years. Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib knows so well about this. He was the CEO of Coastal Development Authority (CODA), and I had to call him on several occasions to get a system running for us. I would be very happy if whoever is taking over from him would take a cue from wherever he has left off to ensure that, in no time, my people in Kpotame get potable water to drink.
With these few words, Mr Speaker, I want to thank you so much for the opportunity to say that very soon we would want to ensure that the people at Dendu, Sasekope, Avovi, Galekope, and Agorkpo get connected to the CWSA to serve them with potable water. I thank you so much for the opportunity.
Hon Davis Ansah Opoku
Mpraeso
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I want to commend my Colleague Member of Parliament from Afajato South for bringing to bear issues that affect CWSA.
Mr Speaker, water, they say, is life, so if we have communities in our dear country which are being deprived of potable water, I think it is important that, as a state, we highlight these concerns and find solutions to same.
Mr Speaker, I served on the Committee on Works and Housing of Parliament of Ghana, and one of the major concerns that, on our usual rounds, we found out was
that human activities continue to destroy most of our water bodies. In fact, encroachments along the Weija Dam is seriously affecting the provision of potable drinking water, even in the main capital, Accra. There have been several interventions by Ghana Water Company Limited to support institutions in providing clean water to communities that even Ghana Water Company Limited does not get to, and these efforts are worthy of commendation.
Mr Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of this country that it seems that galamsey is on the rise. Now, people are engaged in galamsey with impunity. People are mining as if we do not even have a country running. Nobody seems to be talking about it, and it is important that— [Interruption]—Please, we are talking about Ghana Water Company
Mr Speaker, it is important that, as a country, we redirect our attention, just like what happened prior to the 2024 General Elections, to issues of mining and how it affects our water bodies.
Mr Speaker, just this weekend, I drove through some towns in the Eastern Region, and it is as if people have been released without break to engage in active mining; in fact, they are mining along river bodies, and I am happy that this House approved a Minister for Environment, Science and Technology—Now we have Minister of State responsible for Climate Change and Sustainability; we have Minister responsible for Works , Housing and Water Resources, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and I am praying that they put their acts together. I am praying that they put their acts together, because the very actions and things we saw prior to the 2024 election have tripled. Now, galamsey is everywhere. In fact, yesterday—
Mr Speaker, yesterday, a prominent farmer in my Constituency called me. In fact, I asked him to take pictures of what was going on but he said he was afraid; people are now mining along river bodies and it is a challenge. Please, I have not blamed the Government. I have not said that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government is responsible for this so
Thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank you for your guidance. I want to thank my respected Majority Leader for his admonishment. I seek not to generate debate on this matter, I am only highlighting a serious issue that is affecting the quality of water in our country. I am only saying and praying that the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology; the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources; and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources in the coming Budget be given some allocations to fight issues of mining because they are on the rise and are affecting our river bodies.
Mr Speaker, this is all I seek to do and I am extremely sorry if it turned out that I wanted to generate debate, but I think that it is important for me to bring to bear the issues that are currently going on in our country. This is all I sought to do and I really would want to thank you and pray that in the 2025 Budget, the Minister for Finance helps my Brother, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology with more allocation.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to this wonderful Statement from the Member of Parliament from Afadjato South.
Hon Ampaabeng Kyeremeh Simon
Berekum East
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity given. I would like to associate myself with the Statement made by my able Colleague, Hon Frank Afriyie.
Berekum East is currently faced with serious water crisis. In 2014, my constituency was blessed with an Urban Water Project that brought finality to the water problem within my constituency. But just last month, scrap dealers and thieves have stolen 14 pumps out of the 21 borehole pumps that support the water system within the constituency.
Mr Speaker, I was in my constituency just last weekend. I went around and it is extremely worrying and sad that out of the 27 boreholes that were dug—
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to continue to add my voice to the water crisis in the country.
Mr Speaker, just like some of my colleagues mentioned, water is life and I add my voice to the Statement by the MP for Afadjato South that water is a big problem across the country. My constituency, in particular, is blessed to have an Urban Water Project that brought finality to the water problem so coming here, I was only going to concern myself with other things only to go back to the constituency to realise that out of the 21 boreholes dug, 14 of them have been stolen and as of now— Please, humble yourselves to learn. We operate surface water and boreholes for the good people of Berekum- The pumps that power the boreholes have been stolen.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that the pumps that power the boreholes have been stolen and this is extremely worrying because we were relying on surface water plus—
Mr Speaker, the 14 pumps which have been stolen were augmenting the supply of water to my Constituency and this was blessed by the late President, Prof Mills and then Vice President John Dramani Mahama under the erstwhile administration during our first tenure. But unfortunately —
Mr Speaker, the pumps in the boreholes—Please, there are pumps in boreholes and these boreholes that supply us water, their pumps have been stolen and it has really resulted in serious water crises in my Constituency. We are rationing water such that, if we get water today, it might take us one week before we get water again.
I seriously associate myself with the Hon Member for Afadjato South that water crises in this country needs urgent attention so that we can bring good relief to the good people of Berekum And some other constituencies across the country. Thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to add my voice.
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