By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, April 02, GNA - CORD-Ghana, an NGO working in Northern Ghana, has emphasized the critical necessity of ensuring a reliable and secure water source for remote villages.
The organization collaborating with marginalized groups to safeguard the environment, maintain food security, and eradicate poverty stated that access to safe and clean water is a fundamental and essential human right.
Nevertheless, countless rural Ghanaians continued to face challenges in obtaining clean drinking water, as many depended on tainted sources such as polluted rivers, ponds, and unsecured wells. These water bodies frequently contained harmful substances like bacteria, parasites, and chemicals.
Concerns were highlighted in a press release authored by Dr. Kodimah Siita, the Executive Director of CORD-Ghana, and shared with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale. This was done as part of observing this year’s World Water Day celebrations.
The statement indicated that the absence of readily available and secure water sources presented a significant risk to public health, educational prospects, and various economic activities—particularly affecting women and children who dedicate numerous hours each day to finding water.
For many years, residents of rural areas in Ghana, especially those in the Northern Region, have struggled with severe water scarcity issues. According to the Ghana Statistical Service’s report in 2021, fewer than 40 percent of these households enjoy consistent access to clean drinking water. Additionally, merely 35 percent have access to better sanitation facilities. The repercussions of this ongoing crisis extend widely, impacting public health, educational opportunities, and economic development.
The statement read, "Especially young girls often skip school to collect water, whereas women spend numerous hours transporting large loads, which exhausts them and prevents their involvement in more fruitful endeavors."
The report highlighted that waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery were still widespread. It also noted that according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023), more than 70 percent of hospital admissions in rural areas of Ghana could be linked to polluted water sources and inadequate sanitation facilities.
The statement indicated that extended contact with contaminated water might result in parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis and guinea worm disease, thereby worsening both health problems and financial struggles within disadvantaged populations.
The report cited several reasons for limited access to clean water in rural areas of Ghana. These included subpar infrastructure, as many boreholes frequently malfunction because they aren’t properly maintained. Additionally, challenges such as climate change, ineffective enforcement of policies, and a lack of sufficient governmental financial support have impeded attempts to create lasting solutions for providing reliable water systems.
It acknowledged that addressing these challenges necessitated a multi-pronged strategy encompassing innovation, policy advocacy, and community engagement to guarantee sustainable water access for rural areas.
Addressing the water crisis, the declaration advocated for creative and community-led approaches providing dependable and budget-friendly access to purified water. This included utilizing solar-powered water treatment systems, implementing rainwater collection technologies, adopting inexpensive filtering techniques, promoting communal ownership of water cooperatives, forming public-private collaborations, as well as establishing microfinance programs.
It also emphasized the importance of launching educational initiatives focused on water conservation and hygienic behaviors to strengthen sustainable habits, thereby decreasing contamination risks.
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