By Braimah Abdul Majeed
Northern Ghana Correspondent

Residents of the Chereponi District continue to face a severe and persistent water crisis that leaves communities struggling with polluted water during the rainy season and total scarcity during the dry season.

Although water sources become available during rainfall, most streams, dams and surface water bodies become heavily contaminated and unsafe for human consumption. In the dry season, many of these sources dry up completely, leaving residents with limited access to safe drinking water.

The situation has forced many households to depend on unsafe water for drinking, cooking, bathing and other domestic activities, exposing them to serious health risks.

Inusah Keta, a resident of Chombosu, described the situation as unbearable, noting that the shortage becomes so severe during the dry season that many men are unable to bathe regularly due to lack of water.

Another resident, Dramani Kojo Yamun of Chereponi Township, said he avoids using the community’s only dam due to its poor condition and contamination. According to him, some residents defecate along the banks of the dam, and during rainfall, waste is washed directly into the water, worsening its safety.

He further explained that indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the dam has made the water extremely unsafe for consumption. He also alleged that the dam is shared with animals, including crocodiles, making it dangerous for residents who rely on it daily.

He further referenced a tragic incident involving a baby in the community. According to residents, the child was later found in distressing circumstances in or near the dam, with part of the body reportedly missing, and some community members suspect crocodile involvement. However, the exact circumstances surrounding how the baby ended up in the water remain unclear and unverified.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the incident, residents say it has heightened fear about the safety of the dam, even as many continue to depend on it due to lack of alternative water sources.

Seidu Kalbeni, who supplies untreated dam water to residents, admitted that the water is unsafe for consumption. However, he said he continues the business because it is his only source of livelihood and many households depend on him due to lack of alternatives.

The District Chief Executive for Chereponi, Sheini Kofi Amadu, acknowledged the severity of the crisis and outlined ongoing interventions aimed at improving access to potable water.

He said the Assembly drilled ten hand-pump boreholes and five mechanized boreholes in 2025. He further noted that the Wanchiki Dam is currently being dredged under the Climate Smart Municipalities (CSM) project to improve water storage capacity.

Mr. Amadu added that the 2026 District Assembly Common Fund has allocated funds for the construction of ten additional boreholes, while the Member of Parliament for the area is also mobilizing resources to drill more boreholes across affected communities.

Despite these interventions, he explained that the district continues to face significant geological challenges, as many areas lack reliable underground water, making borehole drilling difficult and often unsuccessful.

He appealed to the Government of Ghana and development partners to provide financial and technical support to enable the Assembly to implement sustainable water systems and address the long-standing crisis.

For residents of Chereponi, access to clean and safe water remains a daily struggle, underscoring the urgent need for sustained investment and long-term solutions.