A citizen of Agbozume, Dan K. Jerry Sorokpo, has petitioned the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to urgently restore the operations of the Agbozume Water System and organise a stakeholder town hall meeting to address the prolonged water crisis in the community.
In the petition addressed to the Volta Regional Manager of Ghana Water Company Limited in Ho, Mr. Sorokpo said the collapse of the Agbozume water supply system had left residents facing serious water shortages, economic hardship and sanitation challenges in schools and communities.
According to the petition, the Agbozume Community Borehole, which was constructed by a corporate organisation and subsequently handed over to Agbozume stakeholders for management by GWCL, collapsed in mid-2023 during a period of heavy rainfall and severe flooding.
The development, he said, brought the operations of the Agbozume Water System to a halt and the situation has persisted despite attempts to address the problem.
Mr. Sorokpo noted that several new boreholes were drilled by Ghana Water Company Limited in mid-2024 as part of efforts to resolve the crisis, but according to his petition, those interventions had not resulted in the restoration of regular water supply.
He further complained that customers and stakeholders in Agbozume had not received official communication from the water company regarding the status of the system or a clear roadmap for its restoration.
The petition highlighted the economic burden imposed on residents, with many reportedly travelling long distances by motorised tricycles, popularly known as Aboboyaa, to neighbouring communities to purchase water for bathing and other daily activities.
Mr. Sorokpo said the cost of purchasing and transporting water was putting additional financial pressure on households.
He also drew attention to the impact of the water shortage on clinics, community health centres, schools and workers, stressing that these institutions require reliable water supplies to effectively perform their duties.
According to the petition, the situation has also contributed to some workers seeking transfers out of the town.
Mr. Sorokpo is therefore calling on the Ghana Water Company Limited to organise a stakeholder town hall engagement involving customers, traditional leaders, workers and residents of Agbozume.
The proposed engagement, he said, should provide residents with an update on the current status of the Agbozume Water System and explain the measures being taken towards restoring water supply.
He believes such an engagement would help restore confidence and hope among residents while providing an opportunity for stakeholders to collectively discuss a sustainable solution to the crisis.
The petition was copied to the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Managing Director of Ghana Water Company Limited; Manager of Ghana Water Limited, Aflao/Agbozume; Volta Regional Minister; Municipal Chief Executive of Ketu South; and Torgbiga Adamah III, President and Paramount Chief of the Some Traditional Council, Agbozume.
Story by Courage Edwin Amenuda