Gonten resident cry for potable water

nanaesisey@gmail.com

03/04/19                                                               WE NEED HELP

Residents of Gᴐŋ-teŋ in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality, KKM, have appealed to the government to provide the Community with potable water. According to them, water from the only functioning borehole in the Community contains high iron and chlorine which makes it difficult for domestic uses. The situation has compelled the Community members to resort to the consumption of surface water although its safety cannot be guaranteed. Gᴐŋ-teŋ, which literary means ‘middle of a mountain’, is a farming Community with a population of over one thousand and one of the oldest in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality.  Though there are many challenges facing the Township, lack of potable water has become a major problem for residents, as they have to walk for more than 30 minutes to access surface water. In an interview with Obonu News, a resident, Bernice Oparebea, explained that the high level of iron in water drawn from the borehole makes it difficult to use. A visit to the Community showed that the Town is not only faced with water challenges but other developmental issues as well. The road network from Oyibi to the Town is in a deplorable state; making it difficult for residents to transport their farm produce to other communities for sale. The Community also lacks access to basic health care. Residents have to walk for about five miles to Aburi or Oyibi to board a car to Manpong to access healthcare. Another resident who gave his name as Papa Kwame, said due to the bad nature of roads in the Community, pregnant women in labour have to be carried by the youth in the community to Aburi, which is four miles away, to board a vehicle to hospital. The Assistant Head Master of the Gᴐŋ-teŋ KKMA Primary School, Christopher Adjei, said lack of classroom blocks has compelled the School’ management  to combine two different classes into one class; adding that security of the children is also worrying. Report by Hagar Sey

kpone public toilet

25/09/18                                               CLEAN OUR TOILET

ANN: Some female users of public toilet in kpone old town are complaining of contracting candidiasis, a yeast infection which affects the vagina. According to them poor maintenance and unhygienic condition of the public toilets have contributed to the outbreak of the disease. A visit to four of such public toilets facilities in kpone old town showed that over hundred people use one toilet daily each facility has five cubicles. This translates to over twenty users per a cubicle in a facility. The visit also revealed that the toilets are not cleaned after use. A toilet attendant, who gave her name madam Mary, said due to the complains they have been receiving, children are not allowed to access the toilet. A resident , Nii Adjetey called on the assembly  for help for residents in the community to construct their own toilet.

Story by Hagar Sey

CONIWAS PRESS CONFERENCE ON WWD

22/03/19.                        Give everyone water

The  Vice Chairman of the  Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation, Attach Arthin has called on government through the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to step up its coordination efforts to ensure that there is equity in the supply of safe water to every Ghanaian in the country. He said if government  do not take action to balance the current inequalities in water supply in the country, a lot of people particularly the poor and most vulnerable will be left behind. Mr. Arhin said at CONIWAS media engagement to mark the World Water Day. This year celebration is under the theme;" leaving no one behind. World Water Day is celebrated on the 22nd of March every year by the United Nations for countries to focus attention on the importance of water. This year's theme, ‘Leaving No One Behind’ was adapted from the Sustainable Development Goals Six and Ten which states that everyone must have access to safe water by 2030. Mr. Arhin noted that it is impossible for Ghana to meet the SDGs for Water if the current level of inequalities in water supply persists. He said the SDG goal Six enjoins countries to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. He said according to the 2017/2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS, report by the Ghana Statistical Service, there are vast inequalities between the rich and the poor, urban and rural communities.He said inequalities in resource allocation for water supply further entrench poverty among the poor since they are compelled to spend more time fetching water than their richer counterparts. He therefore called on the government to as a matter of urgency increase financial allocation to drinking water supply and ensure that investments are made in this direction to prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable in order to close the inequality gap. Report by Hagar Sey