Residents in the coastal communities in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region were drinking water from wells that had been contaminated by refuse, dust, and other materials due to the open nature of the wells.
The communities are Mangyea, Mensah Baka, Boakwa, Half-Assini Bungalow, Half-Assini Police Park and Enzimetianu.
The Abuasuapanyin of Mangyea, Nana Ayebiaka, made this known when the Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, commissioned eight boreholes for these coastal communities.
The MP provided two boreholes for Mangyea, two for Mensah Baka, one for Boakwa MA Basic Schools, Half-Assini Bungalow, Half-Assini Police Park and Enzimetianu.
Abuasuapanyin of Mangyea, Nana Ayebiaka, said they have had some of the water, but it could not stand the test of time, so they ended up drinking water from wells.
He said such wells had been dug in various homes but because of the challenges, they appealed to the MP to come to their aid with borehole.
“We wanted to protect the wells from being contaminated by the children in the communities but because the children keep increasing, they throw refuse into the wells which does not make it hygienic for human consumption,” he explained.
Abuasuapanyin Ayebiaka said they had nothing to do about the situation so they were compelled to drink the contaminated water like that which was a worry to them.
The Abusuapanyin appealed to the MP to help complete a teachers’ bungalow in the area to enable teachers stay in the communities when they are posted.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Secretary for Jomoro, Emmanuel Ndarko Benle, said the 24-hour economy proposed by the NDC flagbearer, John Mahama, will boost the economy.
“It will ensure employment. Hospitals will run 24 hours because as it stands now, hospitals labs start work at 8am but with the 24-hour economy, anytime you go to lab for a service, someone would be there to serve you,” he explained.
Mr. Benle said “if you arrive in Ghana from abroad at night at the Kotoka International Airport, you can see that Ghana is ‘dead’. No activity goes on at night, but with the 24-hour economy, all sectors in the economy will run”.
“It shall be divided into 8 hours each and this will create more employment opportunities for the youth,” he added.
Some of the community members hailed the MP for the gesture.
They urged voters to vote for the MP in the 2024 elections to enable her continue with the good work.
The MP, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, assured the communities that she is an orphan since the president of the land is from an opposition political party but she would do her best to support the communities.
“I will bring you 50 slates of roofing for the teachers’ quarters after Christmas. I am an orphan. I don’t have a president, but let us pray for Mahama to come in 2024 and all your needs will be met.”
The MP said water is life so she was touched by this to construct the borehole for these communities because without good drinking water, a lot of diseases can break in these communities.
“I am doing this in 18 communities and this is the first batch of eight. I will begin the second batch of ten after the Christmas to provide water for the rest of the communities,” she assured.
Madam Affo-Toffey urged the residents to ensure they maintain the boreholes because even though they are not big projects, they have solved most of the challenges in these communities.
“If by God’s grace the NDC government comes to power in 2024, and we are able to extend electricity to all the communities, I will provide them with mechanized and modernized water in these communities,” she added.
On education, the MP said “education is very important so I will ensure I solve the issues on education because most teachers cannot stay when they are posted here”.
Madam Affo-Toffey urged the constituents to be calm because the NDC government is the only government that has brought development to Jomoro so she would ensure they get their fair share of the national cake if Mahama comes in 2024.
“If you look at Nzema, NDC has brought us everything. Electricity, road network. We are lacking behind because there is not factory here. We are farmers and fisherfolk but we need industries and I know all these would come to pass when NDC comes to power.”
She added that “there has been an oil discovery here but we are not benefiting but all these would come to pass when Mahama comes”.
Madam Affo-Toffey appealed for votes come 2024 elections because all shows that she has been working for them and will continue to work for them.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|3news.com|Ghana