Santasi Community Demands Action from Ghana Water Over Ongoing Shortage

Residents of Santasi in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly are grappling with a severe water shortage that has entered its second week, sparking outrage and disrupting daily life.

The prolonged crisis has forced many residents to trek long distances with buckets, seeking water from unreliable and often expensive sources. Sanitary conditions are also deteriorating as access to water for basic hygiene becomes increasingly limited.

“We have to wake up by 4a.m. to join long queues for water,” one frustrated resident told Adom News. “The only alternative is buying from polytanks, which is unreliable and expensive.”

Another resident lamented the hardship, stating, “Life without water is no joke. We can’t cook, wash or bathe and the authorities should treat this with urgency.”

The impact is being felt across various sectors. A local hairdresser expressed her distress, saying, “Honestly, this water problem is really bad. You have to walk a long distance before you get water. It interrupts our daily activities especially we the hairdressers. We plead with the authorities to help solve this problem.”

Residents are urgently calling on the Ghana Water Company to intervene and restore water supply to the area.

Maame Akosua, a polytank owner who has become a vital source for the community, described the situation as “heart-wrenching.”

“The people of Santasi are really suffering for water. The water from our borehole polytanks is even better than what the Ghana Water Company supplies because of the galamsey activities that have polluted many of the main sources,” she explained.

She further urged the government to tackle illegal mining, stating, “We need an end to the illegal mining that is destroying our water bodies. Only then will we have clean, reliable water for everyone.”

Frank Owusu, the Unit Committee Chairman for the Santasi Electoral Area, acknowledged the recurring nature of the problem. He assured residents that the committee, in collaboration with the assembly member, is working towards a lasting solution, but could not provide a definite timeline for resolution.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE