The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament is demanding explanation from government for the chronic water shortage that has hit parts of Accra.
The situation, they said, is unacceptable especially as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt life with very little sign of relief.
The Minority warned that Ghana’s efforts at dealing with the debilitating effects of the corona virus will suffer if communities continue to be denied adequate potable water.
Ranking Member of the Works and Housing Committee, Emmanuel K. Bedzrah, who made the call, charged government to tell Ghanaians when the free water it promised will regularly flow through their taps or the mobile tankers will deliver water to their areas.
He lamented that Accra, which is the most populous city and the epicenter of coronavirus in the country has had its situation compounded over the past week with the nauseating water shortage.
“This is really biting hard without any explanation from the authorities in charge,” he stated.
Residents in and around Accra were excited when President Nana Akufo-Addo announced free water as part of measures against COVID-19 during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday 5th April 2020.
The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources later provided details of the directives to the general public.
The President’s announcement was to facilitate regular washing of hands with soap under running water, one of the preventive protocols for the disease.
Mr. Bedzrah said, “Unfortunately, under the current circumstances, residents in Accra are confronted with acute water shortage and one wonders how practicable it would be for them to wash their hands under a nonexistent running water, let alone use same for domestic and industrial purposes.”
“Announcing a populist programme such as free water to households may earn the president loud applause, and may be useful for propaganda purposes.”
“The problem with such pronouncements which is biting hard now is the government’s readiness and capacity to deliver on these flamboyant announcements,” he stated.
The Minority questioned why the promised free water is not being made available as announced and wondered if the Water Producing Companies are facing any technical or financial challenges.
