‘Unbearable Hardship’: Afenyo-Markin Demands Urgent Fix to Winneba’s Water Crisis
The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has raised alarm over the deepening water crisis in Winneba and its surrounding communities, warning that the situation has created “unbearable hardship” for residents. Graphic.com
In the past two weeks, potable water supply in the Effutu Municipality has been severely disrupted, forcing residents to trek long distances in search of water. With a population of over 140,000, the prolonged shutdown has left homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses struggling to cope.
In a letter to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mr. Afenyo-Markin urged urgent intervention to restore supply, stressing that the crisis is threatening public health and socio-economic stability.
“As of today, I can confirm that majority of the communities within the Municipality still remain without the supply of potable pipe-borne water. This prolonged shutdown has created unbearable hardship… its effects are being felt across every sector of community life,” the MP stated.
Health and Education at Risk
The MP cautioned that hospitals, clinics, and health centres are finding it difficult to maintain hygiene standards, with risks of cholera, dysentery, and other waterborne diseases rising sharply. Schools and tertiary institutions have also been hit, as sanitation systems break down, endangering the safety of pupils and students.
Families and Businesses Struggling
Families, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, have been forced to rely on costly and irregular private water suppliers. Daily domestic routines have been disrupted, while small businesses—especially food vendors, hospitality operators, and artisans—are struggling to function, leading to income losses and a slowdown in local commerce.
“The absence of water supply has compounded sanitation challenges, heightened the risk of outbreaks of waterborne diseases, and is threatening the overall socio-economic well-being of the Municipality,” Afenyo-Markin warned.
Call on GWCL
The legislator has demanded that the GWCL provide clarification on the cause of the disruption and, more importantly, a clear timeline for full restoration of potable water supply to Winneba and its adjoining communities.
As the crisis deepens, residents continue to endure severe hardship, awaiting a swift resolution to a problem that has brought daily life in Winneba to a near standstill.
Source: My News Ghana
