Parliament hit by water shortage

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA -A major water shortage has hit Parliament making it difficult for members, staff, visitors and the public to use the washrooms dotted on the various floors in the House. The problem is known to the Authorities and has created severe inconvenience for all culminating in a complete lock up of nearly all the washrooms.

A visit to the Speaker's Block by the GNA confirmed the situation indicating how widespread the problem was. Those who may want to empty their bladder or bowels have been left to their fate. Water shortages are not new to Parliament, built some 40 years ago. What is new this time is that, unlike other times, most of the washrooms including those at the basement, which are usually opened when there is water shortage, have been locked.

A staff of Parliament told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the House should not have sat on Tuesday considering the crisis. Mr Kofi Safo-Duodu, in an interview with the GNA, said an electrical cable supplying power to the pump that sends water into the overhead tank in Parliament got burnt late Monday night following power fluctuation. He said everything was being done to bring the situation under control.

On long-term measures to deal with the regular water shortages, Mr Safo-Doudu said Ghana Water Company was laying new pipelines and that would bring a lot of improvement.

Between 300 and 500 people made up of MPs, visitors, constituents and school children troop to the House, when it is in session. 21 Nov. 06