Gbetsile Residents Protest ‘Unfair’ Water Bills Amid Months-Long Water Shortage
Residents of Gbetsile and nearby communities, including Apolonia and Kakasunanka, have accused Ghana Water Limited of unfair billing practices amid a prolonged water shortage that has affected the area for several months.
According to residents, many households have gone nearly seven months without a stable water supply, forcing families to depend on expensive private water vendors and alternative water sources considered unsafe for daily use.
Community members say the crisis has disrupted domestic life, businesses, sanitation, and personal hygiene, while repeated complaints to authorities have produced little improvement.
Speaking to Channel One News on Friday, May 29, the area’s Assembly Member stated that residents could no longer tolerate what they described as poor service delivery, especially as water bills continue to be issued despite the lack of regular supply.
Frustrated residents have since staged protests to demand immediate intervention from authorities.
The demonstrations were further intensified by a tragic incident in which a six-year-old child reportedly drowned while attempting to fetch water from a septic tank due to the ongoing shortage.
One resident described the situation as unacceptable and urged authorities to prioritise the restoration of water supply to the affected communities.
“We are appealing to management and duty bearers to urgently intervene and ensure water flows in this community. We don’t need technical explanations; we need water. If water is flowing, this protest will not happen. This is not political. It is a fight for our basic rights,” the resident said.
Residents are now calling on government officials and Ghana Water Limited to urgently address the crisis to prevent further hardship and potential health risks in the affected communities.
