Hackman assures Bawku residents of more water supply

Bawku (U/E), March 18, GNA - Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, has reiterated government's commitment to find a lasting solution to the perennial water crisis facing the people of the Bawku municipality.

He said government was assessing the possibility of tapping water from the White Volta Basin for processing and onward distribution to consumers in the area as way to address the situation.

Mr. Owusu Agyeman stated this after interacting with the staff of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) at Bawku on Saturday. The visit also afforded the Minister an opportunity to acquaint himself with the acute water crisis facing the Bawku municipality.

Briefing the Minister on the current operations of the company, Mr. George Yanore, Regional GCWL Engineer, said the current water requirement for the municipality was 726,000 gallons(3,300 cubic meters) per day but what was being provided from the various mechanized boreholes was about 110,000 gallons (500 cubic meters). He pointed out that out of the 11 boreholes that were capable of producing water, only six were in operation, adding that all the submersible pumps in the remaining five were out of order as a result of frequent power fluctuations.

He indicated that irregular power supply had led to the blowing off of the pumps, adding that the solution was to stabilize it for efficient water supply to the area.

Mr. Yanore said aside this, some of the wells were very old and needed to be redeveloped to increase water output. He indicated that as a result of the low production level, water was being rationed on a weekly basis, while the residents have been educated on the need to conserve water.

Mr. Boakye Frimpong,the Regional Chief Manager of GCWL, said presently, there was only one transformer serving only one of the two well fields and the booster station resulting in those boreholes being far removed from the transformer in order to produce the required quantity of water.

He said plans were far advanced to install an additional transformer which will cost about A2280 million to improve water supply and distribution in the Bawku municipality.

Mr. Owusu Agyeman ordered the immediate release of funds for the purchase of a transformer to help address the problem, adding, "When it comes to water, there are no ifs and buts, and so if we have to install the transformers to give the people water, we must do whatever it takes within the next two weeks". 18 March 07