Pupils abandon school in search of water
Water crisis in Nyengbalo, a community in the Karaga district of the Northern Region has led to the closure of schools as school pupils go about in search of water for their households.
Two out of the three boreholes in the community are not working; the only one which was serving the community, due to pressure has also broken down leaving the community with the alternative of sharing the same water with cattle.
Some pupils who spoke to DAILY GUIDE indicated that, during dry seasons, they are always compelled to abandon school in search of water which greatly affects their studies.
Mr. Haruna Mahama, a teacher in the community in an interview with DAILY GUIDE mentioned that, dry seasons are more of a holiday for schools in the district.
According to him, teachers and students alike abandon the classroom in search of potable water.
Residents in the area said they have to travel hundreds of miles to get water which is affecting their economic and social activities.
The Assemblyman for the area, Ali Mahama decried the plight of his community indicating that measures have been taken by the community to provide a temporal solution to the crisis.
He revealed that residents of the area have contributed GH?200 per household to desilt the only dam in the area to increase its capacity.
DAILY GUIDE gathers that the water from the dam is unwholesome for consumption but for the last three years, the story has been the same with no major measures being put in place to minimize the effects of the water scarcity.
Ali Mahama said even though he has informed the DCE of the area about the water situation they are yet to see any change.
Residents in the area are therefore calling on government, NGOs and other related organizations to come to their aid.
FROM Eric Kombat, Karaga