About The State of Water Delivery At Alajo In Accra

 In his recent State of the Nation address, His Excellency the President of Ghana, Professor John Atta Mills drew attention to the fact that water supply has been extended to many homes and the quality has also improved. This comes before Ghana’s marking of World Water where advocates and key players within that sector have called for the need to protect the country’s sources of water, especially as environmentalist cautions on global warming and the effects it has on sources of water. This was what the people of Alajo in Accra had to say:

SAMUEL BOATENG (ALAJO)

“The water delivery system over here at Alajo has improved over the past few months with the exception of electricity supply which is still facing problems. I have also come to notice that very often when there is a road construction, some of the pipe lines are affected and that also accounts for the reason why there is sometimes a cut in the water delivery to this area. Water is increasing becoming a very essential utility and the demand for it keeps rising by the day. I therefore urge the authorities to put in place measures which would ensure that the majority of people have access to water and not just that but, clean water for healthy living.”

AMINA ABUBAKAR (ALAJO)

“Over the past few weeks there has been reported cases of cholera outbreak in some areas here at Alajo and since cholera has a certain linkage to the water we drink, I ask that those who control water supply to this area begin to test the water to find out whether the bacteria which causes the sickness has found its way into the channels. I also want to send a word of caution to the residents of this area to make sure that water is stored in buckets and barrels are covered and if possible boiled before drinking as flies and other flying insects which carries the bacteria can easily transmit the disease.”

BERNICE HOTOR (ALAJO)

“ For the greater part of last year through to this year, Alajo has had some stability when it comes to water supply. On a few occasions, we have had a cut in supply but that was due to one of the bigger pipes that runs by the side of the main road which got destroyed by a trailor-truck a some time ago. Not long ago, by 5 am in the morning you would find very little children and old men and women carrying gallons on their head in search of water. For this reason, the children often went to school late and there was general situation of discomfort  but the situation has improved and we need to commend the young men at the Ghana Water Company. They appear within minutes whenever there is a broken pipe line and that is a very good attitude to service of the nation”

ADWOA AGYEIWA (ALAJO)

“Well apart from periodic cuts in water supply I believe the general situation is not bad. Very recently we heard about some downward adjustments in the price of water by the utility company but it has not reflected on my bill. It is either the landlord is doing ripping us off or there has not been a real decrease which I suspect is the case. It is also the case that there are some people in the society who as a result of ill health or old age are not able to pay for the use of water so I ask that the government puts in a place a special subsidy package for the vulnerable in the society.”

SARAH MENSAH (ALAJO)

“ Very recently I got scandalized to know that the managers of the Ghana Water Company are foreigners and not Ghanaians. For which reason must we hand over the management of such an essential utility to a foreign company when we have very brilliant young men and women endowed with all the knowledge to manage these utility services. It is for some of these reasons we have an ever increasing number of unemployed young citizens in this country. Parents have invested so much into the education of their children and aftrer the toil and agony, there isn’t an availability of jobs to reward these people. This is gross injustice and we must find a solution to it before long. We must entertain an open economy that sees to the interest of every national who decides to work in this country but not to the detriment of our own people, they must be protected.”

AJARA SISAALA (ALAJO)

“ Given the important role water plays in the lifes a people, I suggest that if it is possible, that important resource must be supplied free of charge. Water like air is so crucial for human sustenance and survival and the situation under which we sell water like waakye and tuo zaafi in a chop bar must be stopped. We pay so much taxes in this country and we do not know exactly what is done with does monies. Nothing at all comes without charge. I believe that more and more the leadership of this government even though are trying to mitigate the problems confronting this country must begin to look at some of these issues because it is central to every body”

ATAWIN NAMULE (ALAJO)

“ Oh my son, Allah has asked us to speak the truth at all times and that is why it is only fair to say that Professor Mills has done very well for me. Some time ago I have carry gallons on my heard in search of water but the situation has changed. I just cannot remember the last time I carried gallons which means that there has been an improvement in the situation. Gradually all the problems of this country will be resolved by my President and every thing will be fine. Let us pray for President Mills and everything would be fine because he loves the people of this country and he listens to wise council. He is humble and that kind of person is always favoured by God.”

SAMUEL APPIAH (ALAJO)

“ It would be very strange for anyone to complain of shortage of water in this area. Of course there are some places in this country where there has not been supply of water for many years but not Alajo and its environs. If anything at all the situation has improved from what was existing. My only worry is that many young people are not employed and this posses a lot of hardship to the community. If out of three hundred people, you have half of them in gainful employment, then the rest can rely on the employed ones for support but that is not the case. We are very happy that the water situation over here in this community and many others have improved drastically but we need jobs. Jobs which are directed towards the development of our country at the same time.”