The Ghana Water Company Limited(GWCL) is urging indigenes of the Central Region to store enough water ahead of its planned maintenance works which will lead to a shutdown of the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant.
In a statement dated June 8, 2023, and signed by the Regional Chief Manager, Seth Eric Atiapah, GWCL indicated that there will be interrupted water supply to their customers in some parts of the Central Region from 6:00 am Saturday, June 11 to 6:00 pm Wednesday, June 14, 2023.
Areas to be affected include Cape Coast Township and its environs as well as Komenda – Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) municipality.
Speaking on ATLFMNEWS, Central and Western Regions’ Communications Manager for the Ghana Water Company Limited, Nana Yaw Barima Barnie attributed this shutdown to illegal mining activities (Galamsey) on the river bodies.
He said the increasing level of sand in the water bodies as a result of illegal mining activities has resulted in the destruction of all three pumps of GWCL.
“Sekyere-Hemang Water Treatment Plant was opened in 2008 and by 2020, within the period of 12 years our three pumps have all been destroyed because the pumps were not designed in a way that sand should get into it”, he hinted.
Mr. Barnie said the shutdown is to allow GWCL to install the newly acquired pumps to aid it serve its customers.
GWCL however apologized for the inconvenience caused and also assured its valued customers that the maintenance works will be expedited for the water supply to resume as scheduled.
He, however, expressed worry over the rate at which illegal mining activities are ongoing in the country and said it is important that individuals engaged in such activities put a stop to it to safeguard the country’s water bodies.
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS