Residents of Sheaga, a farming community in the Talensi District, are facing worsening challenges in accessing potable water, forcing many women and children to walk long distances to neighbouring communities in search of water for domestic use.
The situation, according to residents, has become increasingly critical as several sections of the community continue to experience severe water shortages, with some households now relying on unsafe water sources such as dams.
Speaking on A1 Radio, the Assembly Member for the area, Augustine Mmi-oni Guure, described the water situation as alarming and a growing public health concern.
“The situation now is critical as four different sections of the community are facing similar issues,” he stated.
He identified the affected areas as Sheaga-Dazoya, Sheaga-Wung (Logyare), Sheaga-Zoyah and parts of Sheaga-Datok, noting that residents in these communities struggle daily to secure water for drinking and other household activities.
According to him, the persistent shortage has compelled some women to depend on dams and other unsafe water bodies, raising fears of possible outbreaks of waterborne diseases, especially as the rainy season approaches.
“This is causing a lot of health issues,” Mr. Guure stressed.
Despite the challenges, the Assembly Member commended the Talensi District Assembly for recently providing a borehole to one section of the community, Sheaga-Kparang, describing it as a relief for residents in that area.
However, he said many other parts of the community remain without access to safe drinking water.
Mr. Guure further expressed disappointment over what he described as the lack of support from mining companies operating in the community despite repeated appeals for intervention.
“The two big mining companies, namely Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd and Earl International Mining Group Ltd, all mine on the farmlands of this community and are seen as directly impacted companies,” he said.
He disclosed that together with the chief of the community, several official letters had been submitted over the past two years requesting boreholes as part of the companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments, but no assistance has been provided.
“We have written several letters, but it has yielded no results. There are still no signs of support even as the rains are setting in,” he lamented.
At the time of filing this report, neither the Talensi District Assembly nor the two mining companies had responded to the concerns raised by the community.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Talensi
