Two youth groups in the Krobo area, Kloma Gbi and Kloma Hengme have petitioned the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to intervene in a water crisis that has affected several communities for the past six months.
The water shortage, caused by construction work on the Somanya-Odumase-Kpong road, has left residents in areas such as Sawer, Atua South, Kodjonya, and Odumase South struggling to access clean water. Students in local senior high schools are also severely impacted.
The situation is escalating tensions, with residents threatening to protest against the water distributor if the issue is not resolved swiftly. Bismarck Tetteh, a resident, expressed frustration to Starr News, stating that utility companies have been neglecting the needs of people in the Krobo area.
In a joint petition dated January 14, 2025, the youth groups urged PURC to hold Ghana Water Limited (GWL) accountable under the PURC Act, 1997 (Act 538). They are calling for an investigation into the delay in repairing damaged pipelines and for immediate action to restore the water supply.
The petition includes several key demands, including PURC's independent investigation into the causes of the delays and the accountability of those responsible.
They also urge PURC to engage stakeholders such as GWCL and General Constructions Ltd to speed up repairs, establish a clear timeline for restoring water, and implement measures to prevent future disruptions during construction projects.
Furthermore, the youth groups are asking PURC to explore the possibility of compensating residents who have endured significant inconvenience due to the prolonged water shortage.
Henking A. Adjase-Kodjo, the Director of Communications for Kloma Gbi, called the situation unacceptable and warned that it is fueling growing unrest among the community.
Dr. Eric Tamatey Lawer, the General Secretary of Kloma Hengme, criticized the failure to meet acceptable service standards and called for both accountability and compensation for affected residents.
Copies of the petition have been sent to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Konors of Manya and Yilo Krobo, Members of Parliament for Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Constituencies, the Ghana Police Service, and Coordinating Directors of both the Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo Municipalities.
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