The indebtedness of government institutions to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), could lead to a shutdown of the main water treatment plant at Dalun in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region.
According to the GWCL Regional Chief Manager, Stevens Ndebugre, the indebtedness of public institutions including the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) and the University for Development Studies (UDS) is affecting the company’s operations.
He disclosed that “Tamale Teaching Hospital owes us about Ghc1 million. UDS also owes us a lot. The second cycle institutions, as for them, we don’t talk about them. Since 2013 these institutions have been owing us.You see when they get the money they can pay for other things but water, they do not pay because they feel that we can’t do anything. How do we get money to treat the water? We need to get that money, buy the chemicals and treat them to drink.”
Ndebugre said his administration could no longer satisfy its customers’ demand for constant water supply.
“If we don’t get the money, a time will come this plant will shut down. If it shuts down the whole of Tamale will suffer. This time when I go after them, we will disconnect them. So I want to send a signal to them that they should prepare and wait for us.”
He spoke to Citi News on the sidelines when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Works and Housing toured some public and private institutions including hospitals, universities, and second cycle institutions in the Tamale Metropolis.
Ndebugre condemned the continuous sand-winning activities around the Nawuni River.
The Nawuni River is the source of potable water for residents of the Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu and Sagnarigu as well as the Tolon and Kumbungu districts.
The uncontrolled sand-winning by tipper truck service providers over the years has destroyed farmlands and the ecosystem along the river’s banks.
The silting of the river is also threatening its future capacity to supply the required volume of water to over 500, 000 people.
The Parliamentary Select Committee also visited the offices of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citinewsroom.com/Ghana