Severe Water Shortage Crisis in Puteh and Totope Communities

Residents of Puteh and Totope in the Ada East District are facing a severe water shortage, relying on unconventional means for access to water amid dry taps year-round. Assembly Member Mr. Prosper Puplampu has incurred significant expenses in providing water via tankers, while the lack of clean water has heightened sanitation issues, contributing to a cholera outbreak. There is an urgent need for intervention from the government and other organizations to resolve this crisis.

Residents of Puteh and Totope, fishing communities in the Ada East District, are facing a dire water shortage crisis that threatens their livelihoods. The locals have been struggling with dry taps for most of the year, except during the rainy season. In response, they have resorted to unconventional methods such as digging holes in the ground to collect water necessary for daily living, which has raised significant health concerns in the area.

The issue is particularly severe as ensuring access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene is increasingly difficult in these communities, exacerbating a recent cholera outbreak. Mr. Prosper Puplampu, the Assembly Member for the region, expressed that the water crisis has persisted for years despite multiple appeals for assistance to local leaders and the district assembly.

To alleviate the situation, Mr. Puplampu has contracted water tankers to supply water to the communities, incurring substantial costs of approximately GHC 1,500.00 per tanker, with the water being sourced directly from the Volta River. He further noted that the Ada East District has supplied Aquatabs to help residents purify the river water for safe consumption, yet his financial resources are depleting due to the recurrent need for water purchases.

The assembly member highlighted that all four communities within his electoral area—Aminapa, Midie, Puteh, and Totope—have been experiencing water challenges for decades, with Totope being the most affected. He lamented, “I engaged both the Ghana Water Company and District Sanitation and Water Agency, but they could not help us. They keep telling us that they have some challenges that they are yet to fix.”

Mr. Puplampu has made a fervent appeal for urgent intervention from the government, civil society organizations, philanthropists, and non-governmental organizations. He warned that if the water crisis is not addressed appropriately, it could lead to further outbreaks of cholera within these vulnerable communities.

The Puteh and Totope communities in Ada East District are grappling with a severe water shortage that threatens health and sanitation. Mr. Puplampu’s efforts to address the crisis through water tanker services are limited due to financial constraints. Urgent assistance is needed from various sectors to prevent a worsening of the situation and protect the health of residents.

Original Source: gna.org.gh