Residents of Tema Community 25 Protest Water Diversion Amid Acute Shortage

Residents of Community 25 and its surrounding areas in Tema are grappling with an unrelenting water crisis, having gone months without water flowing through their taps. The situation has sparked outrage and frustration, as residents claim that the Ghana Water Company has failed to honour a binding agreement to provide a dedicated water supply to the community.

The agreement, signed between the Ghana Water Company and the Tema Development Corporation, was intended to ensure uninterrupted water access to Community 25. However, residents allege that the water meant for their community is being diverted to commercial bottling plants and other large-scale users, leaving them without this essential resource.

Adding to the gravity of the situation is the proximity of the National Gas Processing Plant, located in Community 25, which relies heavily on water for its operations. The ongoing shortage poses a significant threat to the plant’s efficiency and, by extension, the broader economic activities tied to its output.

Residents are now preparing to take legal and other confrontational actions against the Ghana Water Company. Community leaders and concerned citizens are mobilizing to demand accountability for the water diversion, which they say is driven by corruption and favouritism.

“It is unacceptable for an entire community to suffer while our water that we have paid for is being sold to commercial users and tanker operators,” said Emmanuel Boateng, a resident. “We have paid for a dedicated water supply, yet we are being deprived of it. This is exploitation, and we will not stand for it.”

Reports from within the community allege that the local manager of the Ghana Water Company, along with some staff, is complicit in the crisis. Sources claim that water is being rerouted to specific clients who resell it to tanker drivers. These drivers then distribute the water at exorbitant prices to desperate households.

“This is pure greed,” lamented Ama Asiedu, a resident. “We wake up every day not knowing how to get water for cooking or bathing, yet others are making money from what rightfully belongs to us.”

The prolonged shortage has made living conditions unbearable for residents, who are forced to rely on unsafe water sources. The situation has also triggered health concerns, with fears of waterborne diseases such as cholera looming large.

Community leaders have called on the government and regulatory bodies to intervene immediately. They are demanding a full investigation into the alleged misconduct by Ghana Water Company officials and the immediate restoration of the community’s water supply.

Efforts to reach the local manager of the Ghana Water Company for comment have so far been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, tension continues to rise in Community 25 as residents prepare to escalate their protest.

The crisis underscores the pressing need for transparency and accountability in the management of essential resources. For the residents of Community 25, the fight for their right to water is just beginning, and they remain resolute in their demand for justice and equitable access to this vital resource.

Source: dailydemocratnewsonline.com