Residents drink from gutters

STORY: IDDRISU MORO
A recent visit to Mayera near Amasaman in the Ga East municipality of the Greater Accra region, revealed a very disturbing situation, which could lead to severe health implications.
Residents there have to travel several miles before getting access to pipe-borne water at a very exorbitant prize for their domestic and business use.
What is more, those who manage to cover that long distance, struggle among themselves, as it is often reduced to a “survival of the fittest contest.”
Even before the paper’s latest visit to Mayera, this reporter has been regularly visiting discreetly to observe the water situation in the area.
That notwithstanding, some unscrupulous persons have taken advantage of the situation, to extort monies from people with the hope of helping them to fill their galloons and containers, with little stress.
As the development could lead to an outbreaks of diseases, our lens also captured an incident where people had to resort to running water in gutters and other stagnant water to use for their household activities, a situation which has deepen the already harsh living conditions of the community.
“Look my son (referring to this reporter), we in this area cannot even boast of a single pipe-borne water, but other communities have them in abundance. Are we all not Ghanaians?” furious Madam Sikyibea, who has been living in the community for the 25 years, asked.
Interestingly, not even the excessive publications in the print and electronic media could get the attention of authorities, to respond to the plight of the poor inhabitants whose social rights appear to have been taken away from them.
Our findings established that most of the wells and streams that residents usually resorted to have all been exhausted with others being turned into car washing destinations.
“We have virtually used-up all the wells and streams in this community. Others are also not potable to drink anymore. So the situation has gotten out of hand and very soon we will witness an outbreak of a disease,” Nana Yirenkyi, 45, lamented to Today.
Some of the enraged residents contended that but for the intervention of some spiritualists who treated them with traditional herbs, majority of them would have passed on as they could not escape the recent nationwide cholera outbreak.
“Some of us consulted spiritualists and were treated with traditional herbs and that was what saved our lives, because hundreds of us here were affected by cholera. So what we are telling you is no joke,” a resident, who pleaded to remain anonymous, told the paper.
Madam Naa Ayele also bitterly complained: “We voted for this government and they have not fulfilled what they promised us. In fact, those of us living here are treated like aliens. Our dignity and pride have been reduced to nothing, but thank God some of us are still living and we know that God shall surely come to our aid one day.”