The warning is clear and urgent: Kumasi is facing a looming water crisis. What makes the situation troubling is that it is not the result of a sudden disaster, but years of neglect, weak enforcement and poor environmental practices.
The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Mr Adam Mutawakilu, has raised serious concerns about the state of the Owabi and Barekese dams, which together supply nearly 70 per cent of potable water to Kumasi and its surrounding communities. These critical reservoirs are under threat from siltation, pollution and encroachment.
Equally disturbing is the reality on the ground. At Owabi, workers now paddle canoes to remove plastic waste from the surface of the dam.
This is not just an environmental issue; it is a clear sign of a system under severe strain. Beneath the seemingly full waters lies a worrying truth: the dams are losing capacity due to years of accumulated silt and debris.
At Barekese, the situation is no better. Significant portions of the dam’s depth have been lost, limiting water extraction for treatment.
The warning that Kumasi could run out of water within three years must therefore not be dismissed. With climate change increasing the risk of prolonged drought, the threat is both real and imminent.
The Ghanaian Times believes this is not only a regional concern but a national one. Water is essential to public health, economic activity and social stability. A crisis in Kumasi will have far-reaching consequences.
The call for immediate dredging of the dams is justified and must be treated as urgent. However, dredging alone will not solve the problem. Authorities must enforce environmental regulations to stop encroachment and indiscriminate waste disposal around these vital water bodies.
Local assemblies, traditional leaders and security agencies must act decisively to protect the buffer zones of the dams. At the same time, the public must take responsibility. The plastic waste choking these reservoirs is a result of human activity, and behavioural change is critical.
Government must also respond swiftly. The Ministry of Finance should prioritise funding for dredging and related interventions. Any delay could deepen the crisis and increase the eventual cost of recovery.
Beyond immediate action, there is a need for long-term planning. Sustainable water management, investment in alternative sources and improved infrastructure must be pursued to secure the country’s water future.
Kumasi cannot be allowed to run dry. The time to act is now, decisively and without delay.
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