Borteyman, Tema residents angry over interruption in water supply

Some residents in the Tema Region of the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) database are fuming over what they describe as loud silence of the water producer on why they are not getting water flowing through their taps for over a week now.

The GWCL, Tema Region, has a group platform where notices are posted. On April 12, 2021, a release was posted on the platform communicating a planned interruption of water supply to make way for routine maintenance work on the 42-inch transmission pipeline from the Kpong treatment plant.

The initial statement mentioned Tuesday, April 20 – Thursday, April 23, 2021, as the period of the work.

Signed by Ing. Mac Doe Hanyabui, Acting Regional Chief Manager, Tema Communities 1-12, Tema New Town, Tema Industrial, Kpone, Golf City, Bediako, parts of VRA, Saki, Community 25, Tema General Hospital were part of the affected areas.

The rest were Ashaiman Timber Market, Tulaku, Bethlehem, Jericho, Lebanon, Sebrepor, Kakasunanka, Michel Camp, Borteyman, Santeo, Ashaiman Sun City, and Ashaiman Township.

“Customers in the affected areas are, therefore, being advised to store enough water before the interruption,” the statement said, adding that “supply will be restored as soon as the maintenance work is completed.”

However, a day to the commencement of the first four day interruption, another statement was issued which extended the period to Monday, April 26, 2021.

Apart from the areas mentioned in the initial release, the second statement mentioned Afienya, Apollonia, Gbetsele, Katamanso, Adjei Kojo, East Legon Trassaco, Free Zones enclave, Dawenya, Prampram, Spintex road, Lashibi, Klagon, Sakumono as suburbs that will be affected.

Though the April 19 release assured that “the government’s COVID-19 free water reservoirs will still be filled with water tankers to enable consumer fetch for free,” reports indicate that did not happen.

Uncountable reports of lack of water were shared on the group platforms of the affected residents, including pictures to show taps were, indeed, not flowing. In the afternoon of Sunday, April 25, a resident posted on a platform where the GWCL communicates with customers in the affected areas that: “Some hours to 26/04/2021, if for any reason the interruption of water supply cannot be restored as planned, urgently inform we the customers. This will enable us put in remedial measures to minimize the inconvenience at stake.”

Another also posted: “It’s sad how they used to respond to issues here, now their silence is palpable. GWCL, you don’t build trust this way. Show leadership. Speak to and with the people you serve! That’s how you develop your customer service.”

The above, and others, did not receive any response from the water company until Tuesday yesterday.

A notice said to be signed by the Acting Regional Distribution Manager for the Tema Region, said that maintenance work had completed; disinfection had been done; integrity test also completed.

It added that pumping of water had started systematically for the system charge.

Meanwhile, at the time of writing this report in the evening of yesterday, water had not been restored, despite the notice.

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