Access to safe drinking water is not merely a development target; it is a matter of national security, public health and human dignity. Yet, despite years of policy promises and substantial investments in the water sector, millions of Ghanaians continue to struggle daily to obtain clean and reliable water for domestic use.
Recent data on water access and sanitation in Ghana paint a deeply troubling picture. Although national statistics suggest that more than 80 per cent of the population has access to basic water services, the reality beneath the figures exposes serious structural weaknesses in the country’s water delivery system. A significant number of households remain vulnerable to consuming contaminated water, while many communities continue to rely on unsafe sources or expensive sachet water for survival.
The Chronicle finds this situation particularly alarming at a time when illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, are severely polluting major rivers and water bodies across the country. The destruction of Ghana’s freshwater sources through the reckless use of mercury and other toxic chemicals has compounded an already fragile water crisis.
Indeed, access to potable water is a fundamental human right. Unfortunately, for many Ghanaians, especially those in deprived rural communities, this right remains far from guaranteed.
Reports indicate that about 11 per cent of the population still depend on unsafe surface water sources for drinking and household activities. Even more disturbing is the revelation that approximately 76 per cent of households are at risk of consuming water contaminated with faecal matter. Such conditions pose serious threats to public health and contribute significantly to the spread of waterborne diseases.
It is estimated that nearly 70 per cent of diseases in Ghana are linked to poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water. This should concern every policymaker and public institution. A country cannot aspire to sustainable development while preventable diseases continue to thrive because citizens lack access to safe drinking water.
The burden of inadequate water infrastructure also exposes deep social inequalities within the country. In many rural communities, particularly in the Northern regions, residents spend long hours searching for water. Studies have shown that poorer households are far more likely to spend over 30 minutes collecting water than wealthier families in urban centres. In many cases, women and children bear this burden, sacrificing valuable time that could otherwise be devoted to education or productive economic activities.
Urban areas are not exempt from the crisis. In Accra, Kumasi and several rapidly growing towns, irregular water supply has become a persistent challenge. Residents increasingly depend on sachet water because pipe-borne supply remains unreliable. This dependence on packaged water is not only costly for households, but also contributes to growing plastic waste and environmental pollution.
Successive governments have initiated several projects aimed at improving water supply systems across the country. Projects such as the Sunyani Water Supply Expansion Project and the Keta Water Supply Rehabilitation and Expansion Project represent important efforts to strengthen water infrastructure. International partners and donor agencies have also supported smaller community-based interventions.
However, many of these projects continue to face delays, funding constraints and implementation challenges. The Chronicle believes Ghana’s water crisis is fundamentally a question of national priority. The country cannot continue to treat water infrastructure as secondary while investing heavily in other sectors.
The lessons from the energy sector should serve as a warning. Ghana’s persistent power challenges today are partly the result of years of inadequate investment and poor long-term planning. The nation must avoid repeating similar mistakes in the water sector.
Water is life. Without reliable access to clean water, the country risks worsening sanitation problems, increasing healthcare costs and declining productivity. More importantly, continued pollution of rivers and inadequate investment in water treatment systems could create a national emergency in the future.
The Ghana Water Company Limited and other institutions within the sector must, therefore, receive the financial, technical and political support needed to expand and modernise water infrastructure nationwide. Government must also intensify the fight against galamsey and enforce environmental laws without fear or political interference.
The Chronicle believes the time has come for Ghana to set her development priorities right. Clean water must not become a luxury available only to a privileged few. A nation that cannot guarantee safe drinking water for its people undermines its own future. Ghana must act decisively before the looming danger turns into a full-scale national crisis.
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The post Editorial: Water Security Is National Security appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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