The Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), has said special arrangements for emergency services in the Kumasi metropolis have been made ahead of the closure of the Barekese dam tomorrow, Tuesday.
This follows a release from GWCL which stated that, “the Barekese Headworks of the Ghana Water Company Ltd will be shut down from Tuesday 14th March, 2017 to Thursday 16th March, 2017 for some major maintenance works.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”OFxOmVQocMWRsZ4u7TIufRZWJBN74WgX”]Mr. Sampson Ampah told Citi News, “we have made arrangements for the emergency services, so far as the hospitals especially Komfo Anokye and the fire service are concerned, we have arranged for them to go to our hydrant at Abuakwa.”
The Owabi treatment plant, which serves other parts of the region, including Abuakwa, according to Mr. Ampah, will serve the emergency services until Thursday.
He added that, “two hydrants will be functioning, and so during this period, they can go there to fetch water for any emergency.”
He apologized to residents who will be affected by inconveniences caused, and asked them to “store enough water for the period”, assuring also that the works will be done by Thursday.
The areas in the Kumasi metropolis to affected by this closure are: Asawase, Sawaba, Aboabo, Asafo, Asokwa, Adum, Nhyiaeso, Ahodwo, Dakodwom, Dichemso, Suame, Breman, Kronum, Afrancho, Abrepor, Bantama, Suntreso, Kwadaso, Patasi, Santasi Fankyinebra, TUC, Angloga, Ayigya, Tech, Oduom, Kentinkrono and others.
Illegal mining, illegal fishing threatening dam
The Water Resources Commission (WRC) in 2016 threatened to declare the catchment area of the Barekese Dam a security zone.
The commission has found this necessary following illegal artisanal fishing activities upstream of the dam which have already led to the closure of three water intake facilities by the GWCL.
Compounding this problem is the more serious activity of illegal mining in the catchment area of the dam.
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By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana