4 Days Water Shortage in Takoradi is Unacceptable, Aqua Vitens Must Go!

Reports reaching the National Coalition Against Privatisation of Water (NCAP) indicate that Takoradi Metro has been without water for the past 4 days. Other parts of the country still experience water rationing. The coalition is very worried about this situation which is becoming a norm for the supply of water ever since Aqua Vitens Rand (AVRL) took over the management of Ghana Water Company (GWCL) on 6th June 2006.
Earlier this year greater parts of major cities and towns experience water shortages.  AVRL blamed it on the dry season and power trips. This blame game is a cheap way of covering their inefficiencies.
We are equally concern that Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) and GWCL who are suppose to monitor and sanction AVRL when they fall short of the management contract targets are keeping quite on what is happening.
The time has come for PURC and GWCL to bite, they must be seen to be up and doing and give the people value for their money. There is growing perception that the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources is hob-knobbing with AVRL. Ghanaians were worried when the minister left his work to go out on the field to check illegal connections when his ministry had paid AVRL to do the same work. This is tantamount to covering up AVRL instead of sanctioning them for lack of performance.
We as a coalition are convince that Aqua Vitens Rand has failed the management contract and must be sacked immediately to prevent further calamities. Instead of focusing on making sure that we get water to drink, AVRL is busy transferring and creating big post for workers who dance to their tune. These new positions will conflict with the organogram of GWCL headquarters with a consequence of increasing tension between AVRL and GWCL. We would like to draw the attention of the Public Services Commission (PSC) to this latest development before it is too late.
We would also like to re-visit the promises made by the minister to people of Taifa, Tantra Hill and Dome, when he said some where in March 2008 that within 2 weeks his ministry is providing mechanised boreholes to these communities. Today is 9 June 2008, three months after the commitment nothing has been done. It is time for people of Ghana to say enough is enough to all these deceptions.
The situation in Takoradi  can bring about typhoid and cholera out break.
We there for call on everybody to be vigilant, if the unfortunate happen and anybody falls sick or die, we should bring it to the doorsteps of AVRL immediately. Media and citizenry must be alert!
We once more call on PURC, GWCL and Government to cancel the contract of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited.
Al-hassan Adam
Southern Sector Coordinator
024-4208184
Alhassan.adam@gmail.com