WATER CRISES HIT KUSAWGU TOWNSHIP AND ITS ENVIRONS

WATER CRISES HIT KUSAWGU TOWNSHIP AND ITS ENVIRONS

POSTED BY ANANPANSAH,B ABRAHAM

The people of Kusawgu and its surrounding villages are facing serious water challenges due to acute water shortage as the two dams in kusawgu have dried up. People living in villages like Jiramoape, Alipe, Kadegbonto, Beboaposo and others travel long distances to fetch this muddy water. The state of the water could be very dangerous to the health of both human beings and animals.Due to this, a lot of people have resorted to drinking satchet water, using the muddy water for cooking. Washing of clothes is now a serious headache to the people as no chemical is able to soften the water.
The situation was same last year and this greatly affected the socio-economic activities of the people of the Kusawgu traditional area. This is likely to be worse this year if nothing is done about it. The two dams are the only source of drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, building, and irrigation water to Kusawgu and its surrounding villages.This causes serious pressure on the dams especially as the population of these communities keep increasing.
The fundamental reason for the poor infrastructural and agricultural development of Kusawgu is the problem of water. A lot of people are failing to build even houses in Kusawgu just because of the problem of access to portable water. Farmers have in recent times registered poor harvest because of erratic natural rainfall yet no sufficient water for irrigation. People with business initiatives that will require water cannot operate in Kusawgu but rather have to migrate to places with water.This among other reasons are the cause of migration and low production in the area.
I therefore wish to make a passionate appeal to the government especially the Central Gonja District Assembly and the member of parliament for the Yapei-Kusawgu constituency, the assembly members for the Kusawgu traditional area, Kusawguwura and the sub-chiefs within the traditional area, NGOs and all stakeholders in the provision of water to rural communities especially the Ghana water company to endeavour to extend the water from the Yapei river to Kusawgu township and its surroundings to help curb the water crises. However, immediate intervention is needed to save the lifes of the people of Kusawgu traditional area.
WRITTEN BY
SULEMANA ISHAWU
A RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVIST/STUDENT-UDS
0543199250