Residents of Sokoban in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly have been grappling with a severe water shortage for over three months due to the destruction of their water pipelines by a road contractor.
The contractor, Kofi Job, who is working on the Daban-Sokoban road, failed to relocate the pipelines before commencing work, resulting in a disruption of water supply to the community.
This unexpected water crisis has caused significant hardship to the residents, who are forced to rely on untreated water sources such as streams and hand-dug wells to meet their daily needs. Those who can afford it resort to purchasing water from tankers or bottled water, which has placed a heavy financial burden on them.
The situation has become particularly precarious with the onset of the rainy season, as the quality of the water sources available to residents is further compromised. There is a growing concern about a potential cholera outbreak due to the consumption of contaminated water.
Hon. Kwadwo Boateng, the Assembly Member for Sokoban, expressed deep frustration with the contractor’s negligence in an interview with Silver Fm’s Akwadaa.
He highlighted the exorbitant prices residents are forced to pay for untreated boreholes and tanker water, which have become essential commodities.
The assembly member accused the contractor of failing to provide a timeline for the restoration of the water supply and raised concerns about the potential health risks posed by the water crisis. He urged the KMA to intervene and hold the contractor accountable for his actions.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has stated that it is awaiting funding from the contractor to replace the damaged pipelines and restore water supply to the affected community. The GWCL had submitted its estimates for the relocation of the pipelines to the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), but the necessary funds have yet to be received.
When contacted, the Engineer of Kofi Job Construction Limited, Mr. Frank Atsu Boaja, claimed that the company had already paid the estimated amount to the GWCL and expressed confusion over the delay in relocating the pipelines. However, he declined to disclose the specific amount paid.
Isaac Asiedu
