News:
March 3, 2011
The Minority Spokesperson on Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hon. Cecilia Dapaah has blasted the Mills administration over its water rationing policy, saying it shows clearly the lack of deep thinking and vision on how to fix the nation’s water problems.
Her comments come over a week after President Mills touted the policy as one which has helped to fill the dry taps of many suburbs and households, which hitherto did not see running water for years.
President Mills during the Third State of the Nation Address told Parliament that Adenta, a suburb of Accra which has one of the worst water problems, had enjoyed significant water supply because of a water rationing exercise carried out by the Ghana Water Company, a claim that was disputed by residents of the area.
Former deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hon. Cecilia Dapaah, told Citi News President Mills’ comments were most unfortunate and exposed Government’s lack of vision for the water sector.
“Day in and day out, people are migrating from our rural areas to the urban areas. There is population growth. New industries are being introduced into the system, and this is part of our developmental process. So there should always be a vision of carrying on. Accra will remain Accra in land size but people can come in and augment or swell up the numbers. I haven’t seen the Mills administration prosecuting this vision because from what was done by the previous Government, I haven’t seen anything being done to augment the water delivery in Accra. And if the President says that rationing should be the norm of the day that is pitiful,” she said.
“If you look at the statistics, people who get water supply 24 hours a day, I don’t think they are even 30%. And when you turn on your tap for sanitation purposes, water should flow. People who are deprived pay more than what the Water Company charges. At times they pay ten times more. So you can see that if we put the right projects in place and supply the water, people have the capacity to pay for the water they use. Invariably because they are not getting the water, they pay ten times for the cost of water and I believe it is not fair” she said.
The Bantama MP also accused the Mills administration of sidestepping a comprehensive Water Policy approved by the erstwhile Kufuor administration prior to the 2008 General elections.
“I am amazed because if the blueprint is there and is for the national good why can’t it be continued? It is for Ghanaians, it is not an NPP Policy. Water is a human rights issue so Ghanaians should be provided with good drinking water to be able to survive and live healthy lives.
“How come that in this 21st century, we have an outbreak of cholera with people dying at Korle-Bu? This is unacceptable. Imagine a maternity home without water. Imagine children who have to be late or absent from school in search of water. So I believe as much as they want to accept the rationing of water, I think it is not enough. This Government has a penchant for borrowing so they should go and borrow and give us the water.”
Source: citifmonline.com