No Water, No Vote – Teshie Residents

The people of Teshie, a suburb of Accra have threatened not to vote in the 2004 general elections if steps are not taken to solve the perennial water shortage affecting the town. They have also threatened to stop any political party, which attempts to campaign in the area. The residents say government has made no effort to rectify the problem.

According to a letter written by the Teshie Concerned Citizens Association and addressed to the Electoral Commission, the people unanimously decided not to vote and have resolved to resist all attempts by the Electoral Commission to bring ballot boxes to the area.

On February 18, this year, the residents marched to Parliament and presented a petition to the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Freddie Blay on the situation, but nothing has been done.

The Teshie residents say if it is a right for one to exercise his or her franchise during an election, then it is a right to have water flowing everyday in their taps. The letter said that women and children have been encountering problems in their search for water and cited an example where a woman was knocked down by a vehicle in her attempt to look for water for her household chores.