In spite of the fact that the three northern parts of Ghana – Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions – are poverty-stricken, successive governments in this nation continue to pay lip-service towards addressing this problem. It is most unfortunate that our Ghanaian citizens who live in the north continue to be faced with many challenges prominent amongst which is the lack of potable water.
Indeed, there are many districts up north that have no access to good and healthy drinking water. This situation has made inhabitants in these areas vulnerable to water-borne diseases such as bilharzias and guinea worm infections.
We have seen the kind of pain and damage that guinea worm infection has inflicted upon indigenes in the north who do not have the access to good drinking water.
We must also understand and appreciate the fact that the growth of Ghana’s economy will largely be dependent on a healthy workforce. Definitely, in a nation where its population is unhealthy it stands to reason that such a country will find it difficult to progress.
It is against this backdrop that Today believes that the appeal made by the Talensi-Nabdam District chief Executive (DCE) in the Upper East region needs to be given a serious attention by the powers that be. A news item carried on the centre spread of today’s issue talks about the cries of the indigenes of Talensi-Nabdam for potable water.
According to the story, the only source of drinking water for the district is a borehole that unfortunately, contains large deposits of fluoride that causes browning of the teeth. From the article, it is indeed obvious that the water problem in Talensi-Nabdam is dire.
Water often is said to be life therefore we hope that efforts will be made by the authorities concerned to save the people of Talensi-Nabdam from further guinea worm infections and other water-borne diseases.
Though organisations such as the Carter Foundation managed by former US president, Jimmy Carter and other non-governmental organisations are helping to eradicate guinea worm infections by providing potable water to communities, Today still thinks it is incumbent upon government to ensure that the people in the north have access to good drinking water.
It has been argued that many of the woes of the people in the north stem from the fact that they are always engaged in ethnic clashes which continue to slow the pace of development in the area. As we call on government to provide them with good water, it is equally important that the people in the north learn to co-exist and live in peace. This is important because the country cannot constantly continue to expend huge capital resources to maintain peace in the north whereas such resources could be used to improve their lot.