Water crisis hits Ahanta West

Agona (Western Region) 8 April '99

Agona Ahanta, the capital of Ahanta West District and its surrounding communities, have been hit by water shortage for the past one month. This is due to poor rainfall which has caused wells, streams, rivers and other water bodies to dry up. The district capital with a population of more than 6,000 people has had no source of potable water for the period. Some residents are depending on a few wells constructed by individual households and by the Agona Nkwanta Health Centre.while others walk several kilometres to search for water. The Ahanta West District Assembly occasionally uses tankers to supply water to residents of Apowa, near Takoradi. Residents who spoke to the Ghana News Agency described the assembly's intervention as "inadequate" and called on the Western Regional Office of the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation to ensure "regular supply of water to save the district from epidemics. A source at the District Assembly said the assembly has intensified efforts to provide the area with pipe borne water. It said a levy of 10,000 cedis is being collected from the residents for work to begin on a water project.