PROTECTING OUR WATER BODIES (NOV 21, 2008)

WATER resources in the country have been under threat as a result of human activities. There is widespread encroachment on water bodies through farming activities and the construction of structures on water courses.
Years ago it was a taboo for anybody to engage in any endeavour near water bodies. In some communities, rivers are considered as gods and sacrifices are offered periodically to protect them. For these reasons, green belts are always created along the rivers in order to avoid unnecessary siltation and evaporation.
Today, through our utter disregard for the basic rules prescribed by our traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure order, we cannot sustain development processes.
As a result, the population boom, industrial expansion and our lack of respect for the exploitation of natural resources in a responsible manner have rendered us poor.
Thus we are unable to produce abundant food to feed ourselves, while water too is becoming a scarce resource throughout the world. It is acknowledged at all international conferences that the next world war is likely to be fought over water, in apparent reference to the dwindling nature of water resources.
Ghana can boast of many water bodies, for which reason the impression is created that the country cannot be in need of water. The threat posed to all these water bodies is manifested during the dry season when the water recedes, making it difficult for the systems to pump water to consumers.
Earlier this year, the looming water scarcity was evident throughout the country when every day residents of major cities, particularly Accra, carried yellow gallons, popularly called “Kufuor gallons”, in search of water.
The spectacle appeared quite embarrassing in Accra, the gateway to the country, compelling some commentators to say that the situation reflected the failure of the government to deliver on its mandate to improve the standard of living of the people.
The government did not relent in the face of the criticisms but assured the people that it had initiated moves to renew the country’s water systems.
This week, President J.A. Kufuor has fulfilled that promise by inaugurating three water plants at Sekyere Hemang and Bafikrom in the Central Region and Weija in Accra.
Residents of Accra, especially those in the eastern part, will be happy that with the interconnection of the Weija supply system with the Kpong system, water supply to places such as Adentan, Madina, Teshie, Nungua and La will be enhanced considerably.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends all the stakeholders — the government, MTN and other donors — who supported all the water system renewal projects in the country.
Nonetheless, the threat to water availability will not end with the provision of these facilities if, collectively, we do not protect our water bodies.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that there are other things that we need to desist from, such as the use of potable water for gardening and washing of cars, so that we can conserve this scarce resource for human survival.
The abuse of the environment must also stop so that the water bodies can support the country’s development agenda. We must also pay our bills regularly, while those who tamper with pipelines should desist from the practice in order to make one of the basic necessities of life — water — accessible to all.