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THE Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John Nburidiba, has appealed to Ghana Water Limited (GWL) to ration water to serve the residents of Tamale and its environs in order to address the water crisis facing the metropolis.
The minister made the appeal when he held a meeting with the management of the GWL to get briefing on the causes of the short fall in water distribution in the metropolis.
Mr Nburidiba said the water crisis in the area was creating a security threat in the metropolis, adding that the meeting with them was to “prevent flames” of any security issues, adding that he receives calls each day from residents expressing their unhappiness about the water shortage in their areas, especially as they were in the fasting month.
He expressed his desire to collaborate with stakeholders to find a lasting solutions to the water crises in the area, and called on the residents to remain calm, as they were collaborating effectively to solve the water crises in the area.
As part of efforts to address the water crisis the minister visited the Dalun and Nawuni water pumps stations to gain first-hand information about the water supply challenges and ways to solve it.
The Northern Regional Production Manager of the GWL, Mr Albert Nyeteng, said the Tamale Water System was built in 1972, and had since seen only one major expansion in 2008.
He attributed the water challenges to aged infrastructure and a rapidly growing population, adding that demand for water in Tamale currently stood at 90,000m³, while production was only between 35,000m³ and 38,000m³, less than half of the demand.
“The long-term solution to the water challenges in Tamale is the construction of the Yapei Water Project, which will go a long way to improve water supply in Tamale and its surrounding communities,” he stated
He highlighted that the significant population growth in the area was another factor that had not been matched with the corresponding increase in the number of raw water pumps and treated water pumps at Dalun and Nawuni.
The Production Manager further appealed to the minister to use his influence to support them to fast-track the Yapei Water Project and assured him that GWL was effective working tirelessly to enhance water supply in Tamale and its surrounding communities.
