Residents of Gomoa Mangoase, a farming community in the Central Region with a population of over 5,000, have issued a desperate appeal to the government, saying they are “dying” due to the lack of access to clean, potable water.
The community has been without water since the shutdown of the Kwanyarko Water Works, leaving residents to struggle daily to find water for drinking, bathing, and other essential household needs.
Speaking to the media, some residents described how the water crisis is affecting their health and disrupting their lives. According to them, children are either skipping school or arriving late because there is no water to bathe in the mornings. Others say they are falling sick from drinking unsafe water, which they are sometimes forced to use out of desperation.
Nana Okofo Agyefo Amoakoh II, the chief of Gomoa Mangoase, has appealed directly to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to fulfill his campaign promise to provide clean water and to take urgent action to stop illegal mining (galamsey) activities, which have worsened the water situation in the region.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa Central, Hackman Kobina Aidoo, expressed concern over the pollution of River Ayensu by residents in parts of the Eastern Region. He said this environmental damage has contributed to the current water crisis faced by communities like Gomoa Mangoase.
The community continues to call on authorities for immediate intervention to restore their access to clean water and prevent a full-blown health disaster.
