By Kingsley Mamore
Kete-Krachi (O/R) Oct 24, GNA – Mr Prosper Addo, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Krachi West, has appealed for urgent government support to facilitate the construction of a proposed US$6.7 million water treatment facility to address persistent water shortages in the Municipality.
The proposed facility, which would draw and treat water from the Oti River for distribution to communities, is expected to provide a sustainable solution to the long-standing challenge of access to clean and reliable drinking water.
Mr Addo told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the Municipal Assembly was pursuing a partnership with the Zoomlion and Magma to undertake the project but required an initial financial commitment of GH¢8 million to advance the initiative.
He said government support was critical to meeting the requirements and ensuring the timely implementation of the project.
The appeal comes amid worsening water shortages in Kadentwe, Ehiamakyene, Kete-Krachi township and other surrounding communities, where residents continue to struggle to access safe drinking water despite the municipality’s proximity to the Oti River and other water bodies.
In Kadentwe, a farming community in the municipality, residents say water shortage has persisted for years, with several interventions, including borehole drilling and the installation of water systems, failing to provide a lasting solution.
Some of the facilities have broken down, while residents claim that certain newly drilled boreholes operated for only about three months before becoming non-functional.
The situation has compelled residents, including children, to queue for hours to collect water or walk for approximately 40 minutes to the Oti River to obtain water for domestic use.
The water collected from the river is used for drinking and household activities, raising concerns about the potential risk of waterborne diseases.
Speaking to the GNA, Nana Addae Emmanuel, Okyeame of Kadentwe, and other residents described the situation as distressing, saying the community had struggled with water shortages since its establishment.
They said interventions by the Member of Parliament for the area, Ms. Helen Adwoa Ntoso, and other organisations had not adequately addressed the problem, partly because of the difficult terrain.
According to them, the persistent shortage was affecting education, healthcare and economic activities, with some children occasionally missing school while searching for water.
The residents appealed to the Government, non-government organisations and development partners to support the construction of the proposed water treatment facility to ensure a reliable supply of safe drinking water.
Mr. Addo said the Assembly had constructed 17 major boreholes since 2025 and was undertaking repairs on some existing water facilities as temporary measures to ease the situation in affected communities.
He acknowledged the support of World Vision Ghana and other development partners towards improving water access in some communities but called for additional assistance to address the challenge on a broader scale.
The MCE said the proposed water treatment facility would be an important intervention towards meeting the municipality’s water needs if the necessary financial and logistical support was secured.
Some residents recalled that communities in the area surrendered substantial portions of their land in 1966 for the construction of the Akosombo Dam, which continues to play a significant role in Ghana’s electricity generation.
They argued that the historical sacrifice should be accompanied by improved access to essential services, particularly safe drinking water.
For residents of Kadentwe and other affected communities, the Oti River remains a vital but underutilised resource, with many still compelled to depend on it directly for their daily water needs.
They are therefore calling for urgent and sustainable interventions to transform the river into a dependable source of treated water and improve living conditions across the municipality.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah