Frustrated residents of Accra have taken to social media to express their outrage over the Ghana Water Company Limited’s (GWCL) silence on an ongoing water shortage that has plagued parts of the city for nearly a week.
Communities in the eastern part of Greater Accra, including Madina, Adenta, Dodowa, and their surroundings, have been without water since Sunday, August 25, 2024.
Amidst the significant disruption, many netizens have criticized GWCL for failing to effectively communicate with the public regarding the cause of the outage and the expected timeline for restoration.
“Madina has been without water 💧 for the past 5 days and I have not heard anything from @GWCL_Gh about why our taps ain’t flowing! Is this how public service institutions are supposed to act?” one user lamented on social media.
Another exasperated user wrote, “@GWCL_Gh do you people take us for a joke or what? We pay for bills every month but you’re not providing water for our homes. Why are all you government institutions so incompetent with your services? Stressing the lives of the good people of Ghana.”
GWCL, in a statement, according to the Ghana News Agency has explained that the interruption was due to a burst in the transmission line from the Kpong Treatment Plant to the Dodowa Booster Station. Engineers had been dispatched to repair the damage, but further weaknesses were detected in the same line, leading to additional delays.
The company assured the public that they are working tirelessly to resolve the issue and restore water by Wednesday, August 28, 2024, barring any unforeseen challenges.
As of now, the statement from GWCL being referenced by GNA is yet to be accessible to members of the general public.
The GWCL’s explanation has done little to calm the anger of residents. One user fumed, “I have to come ask you why water ain’t flowing? Don’t you think it is the responsibility of GWCL to communicate to the people why water no dey flow? Ah chale how dem employ you? Your mind dey floor flat.”
GWCL is said to have assured the public that they are prioritizing essential services such as hospitals and schools, which are being supplied with water through tankers while the repairs are underway.
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our valued customers and are doing everything possible to ensure a swift resolution,” the company said in a statement signed by Mr. Stanley Martey, Chief Manager of Public Relations and Communications, which has been referenced by GNA.
Despite this, netizens remain frustrated by the lack of proactive communication from the water company, calling for more transparency and regular updates as the crisis drags on.