Residents of Nayorigo and Tarongo-Awaa communities in the Bongo District of Ghana are facing significant challenges with access to potable water and sanitation facilities. Inadequate water facilities have compelled residents, particularly women and children, to travel several kilometers in search of water. The absence of household toilets has forced many families to resort to open defecation, exposing them to various health risks.
The water crisis in Nayorigo is severe, with the few available boreholes inadequate to serve the growing population. Even where boreholes exist, the low water table means residents have to pump for several minutes before obtaining water. This situation affects women and schoolchildren the most, as the daily search for water disrupts household activities and children's education. Children often spend long hours fetching water and consequently report late to school, while women struggle to return home early enough to prepare meals for their families.
The water shortages have a significant impact on the community, particularly during the farming season when women have to combine household responsibilities with agricultural activities. According to a resident, Ms. Awine Ake-emah-Kapoe, water shortages sometimes leave families without meals and negatively affect girls' education because of the time spent searching for water. The situation is also affecting healthcare delivery at the community's only Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound, which lacks a dedicated water supply and basic hygiene facilities.
Healthcare workers at the CHPS compound have to compete with residents at community boreholes for water needed to maintain hygiene standards and implement infection prevention and control measures. Mr. Edmond Atule Aduko, a community advocate, noted that the absence of a reliable water source at the facility has undermined healthcare delivery, especially services provided to pregnant women and children. He appealed to the Bongo District Assembly and development partners to provide a mechanized water system for the CHPS compound, together with handwashing facilities, to improve sanitation and healthcare delivery.
The Bongo District Assembly and development partners are being called upon to provide additional potable water sources in the community and support households to construct toilet facilities to help eliminate open defecation. Mr. McCarthy Aguyire, the Assembly Member for the area, suggested that part of the problem stemmed from engineering challenges, explaining that some boreholes were drilled during the rainy season without adequate consideration of the area's low water table. He appealed for technical and financial support to help address the situation.
Residents of Tarongo-Awaa also expressed concern about inadequate access to potable water, saying the challenge forces them to travel long distances to meet their daily household water needs. A mechanized water system would not only provide reliable access to drinking water but also support dry-season vegetable production and improve livelihoods. Residents also appealed for waste collection materials, including dustbins, to improve waste management and environmental sanitation.
The Civil Society Leadership Mobilizing for Better Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project, implemented by the Builsa Environmental and Water Development Association (BEWDA) with funding support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through WaterAid Ghana, seeks to address these challenges. The project has trained at least 100 community advocates across five districts and municipalities in the Upper East region to strengthen community-level advocacy and promote accountability in addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges.
Key points
- Residents of Nayorigo and Tarongo-Awaa communities in Ghana's Bongo District are appealing for improved access to potable water and household toilet facilities.
- Inadequate water facilities and absence of household toilets have led to open defecation, exposing residents to various health risks.
- A mechanized water system and support for households to construct toilet facilities are being sought to address the water and sanitation challenges.
