Category Archives: Water

World Water Day: Young Girls In Northern Ghana Concerned Over Water Shortage And Its Impact On Menstrual Hygiene

Children competing for water in a dried-up dam in Fuo-Tamale

As the world commemorates World Water Day under the theme; “Water for Peace”, several young girls in the Fuo Electoral Area in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region, have expressed grave concern over the acute water shortage in their community. They highlight the severe health implications, particularly concerning menstrual hygiene. These girls lament the Ghana Water Company Limited’s failure to provide sufficient water supply, compounded by the complete drying up of local dams.

The Fuo electoral area and many others in the Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality have endured months of tap closures due to the GWCL’s inability to meet water demands.

Speaking with _Hawk News GH, one of the affected girls Rafia Sulemana revealed that she often skipped school during menstruation due to the lack of water for proper hygiene maintenance.

The acute water shortage in the Fuo Electoral Area is impacting young girls’ ability to maintain proper menstrual hygiene. This directly relates to Sustainable Development Goal Six (SDG Goal 6), which focuses on ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all. The lack of sufficient water supply, compounded by the drying up of local dams, reflects the setbacks in achieving this goal. Additionally, water scarcity leads to school absenteeism among girls during menstruation, emphasizing the broader implications for education and gender equality, which are also addressed within SDG Goal 6.

“Myself and many of my peers refrain from attending school when menstruating because there is insufficient water to ensure proper hygiene. The intense heat exacerbates the situation, making it uncomfortable to stay in class when experiencing menstrual odor” Rafia stated.

In a plea for assistance, these young girls call on government and non-governmental organizations to provide clean and safe drinking water that aligns with the objectives of SDG Goal 6 in promoting human health, well-being, and sustainable development.

Source: Simon Unyan

N/R: Fuo residents beg for mechanized boreholes amid water crisis 

A woman drawing water from a pit dug within the enclave of a dried-up dam

In a dire situation plaguing the Fuo community in the Tamale North Constituency of the Northern Region, the primary dam that supplies water has completely dried up, leaving thousands of households and residents without access to clean water.

For several months now, taps in the area have been shut off, intensifying the annual water shortage issue that the community faces. In a recent visit by RepublicOnline, it was observed that desperate measures have been taken by women, including pregnant women, who are forced to dig holes within the dried-up dam’s enclave to secure water.

These women endure the scorching sun, narrating that this desperate practice during the dry season is not a novelty, as their pleas for help have gone unanswered in the past. Despite being a periurban community, the recurring water scarcity has escalated, affecting not only domestic activities but also small trade businesses, as women redirect their time and effort in search of water.

Madam Adizah, a seven-month pregnant mother, expressed her distress over the situation, highlighting the health implications and the disruption of their daily lives. She pleaded with the government and NGOs to intervene by providing the community with safe drinking water.

“We need taps and merchandized boreholes in this community. We drink this water with animals, and there is a lot of dirt in it, which is a threat to our health. I am a businesswoman, but I had to put that aside to search for water, which has become my daily routine so that my kids can bathe and go to school,” Adizah lamented.

Another resident, Alhassan Fuseina, emphasized the dire difficulties they face, competing with animals for the little water left in the dried-up dam. She highlighted the unsanitary conditions, expressing the community’s desperation to secure clean water for their families.

Madam Fuseina revealed many residents resort to purchasing water from tricycle operators at significant costs, further exacerbating their financial burdens.

As the water crisis deepens in Fuo, the community issues a heartfelt appeal for immediate assistance from the government and non-governmental organizations to provide sustainable solutions and alleviate the suffering of its residents, especially women.

Source: Simon Unyan