The water crisis in the Central Region is deepening, as residents of the Effutu Municipality face the threat of an outbreak while communities in the Gomoa East District are already grappling with waterborne diseases.
The shutdown of the Kwanyako Water Treatment Plant for over two weeks, combined with contaminated supply from the Winneba Headworks, has left thousands without access to safe drinking water.
Health workers at the Gomoa Fetteh CHPS compound have reported a sharp rise in diarrhoea cases. Senior midwife Belinda Serwaa Sarfo described the situation as overwhelming.
“We are really struggling. Some patients come in with diarrhoea and need a place to use the toilet, but there is no water to flush the system. Sometimes we have to send people out to look for water, while we also search elsewhere. Most of the time, even finding water is a serious problem,” she lamented.
“Just yesterday alone, we recorded 20 cases of diarrhoea,” she added.
In Effutu, authorities are equally concerned about a possible outbreak, as some residents rely on water from the Winneba Headworks—suspected to be contaminated by galamsey activities—while others turn to the heavily polluted Ayensu River.
Municipal Chief Executive, Atta Mensah said the assembly is preparing contingency measures, including borehole projects.
“We are seeking to drill 10 boreholes. For the short term, we will construct five. The nature of our land is affected by iron and salt, so we are looking at getting an iron filtration plant where we can use it for the expected water,” he explained.
10 districts affected by Kwanyako Headworks shutdown – Central Regional Minister
