In Agbozume, located in Ghana’s Volta Region, life has been anything but normal for nearly two years. The town now grapples with a harsh reality: a serious water crisis that has left residents desperate, anxious, and unheard.
The water problem in Agbozume didn’t start overnight. It was triggered by devastating floods that swept through parts of the Volta Region, severely damaging pipelines and other infrastructure that once supplied clean water to the town. These pipelines, managed by the Ghana Water Company, have remained broken for moreb than two years, and efforts to fix them have been slow or entirely absent.
Water is now a luxury in Agbozume. Residents, many of whom are farmers, traders, and artisans, must rely on sachet water sold at inflated prices. Others, particularly the elderly and children, trek long distances just to fetch a few gallons of water from distant streams, boreholes, or neighboring towns. The burden is even heavier on women, who often bear the responsibility of finding water for cooking, washing, and caring for their families.
During the rainy season, some households turn to rainwater harvesting, but this solution is neither sustainable nor safe. When the dry season sets in, the already dire situation worsens, and families are left with no option but to ration what little water they can afford or access. With water so scarce, hygiene has taken a serious hit. Handwashing, laundry, bathing, and even cleaning of cooking utensils have become less frequent, putting people at risk of disease outbreaks.
Residents have not remained silent. From local radio programs to community meetings, the people of Agbozume have consistently voiced their concerns. Traditional leaders, including the Paramount Chief of the Somé Traditional Council, have formally appealed to the government to extend water from safer sources, such as the Volta Lake, to Agbozume.
Despite these calls, responses have been slow and promises, unfulfilled. The situation in Agbozume is more than just a local inconvenience—it is a humanitarian crisis that deserves national attention. Access to clean water is a basic human right, and no community should be left to suffer in silence for over two years. The government, water agencies, NGOs, and development partners must act urgently. Fixing the broken pipelines, investing in alternative sources such as mechanized boreholes, and improving water governance in the region should be a top priority.
Agbozume’s story is one of resilience, but resilience has its limits. The people have done their part by adapting, enduring, and speaking out. Now, it is time for the authorities to listen and act.
