Kenneth Adams' Daily Search for Water Reflects Domweni's Growing Crisis

Every day, Naa Kenneth Adams worries about where his family will get enough water for drinking, cooking and other household needs.

Like many residents of Domweni in the Lawra Municipality, he has spent years relying on unsafe water sources after the community's only dam became damaged and could no longer provide a reliable supply of water.

For Mr. Adams, the struggle goes beyond meeting his family's daily water needs. The damaged dam has also disrupted farming activities, leaving many farmers without enough water for their crops and livestock and threatening the livelihoods of households that depend on agriculture.

The situation has become a daily reality for the entire community. Women and children often walk long distances in search of water, while many families are forced to use unsafe sources that expose them to waterborne diseases. During the dry season, the challenge becomes even more severe as some households resort to buying water at prices they can barely afford.

Residents say repeated flooding washed away the embankments of Domweni's only dam, leaving it unable to retain water. Since then, the community has struggled with persistent water shortages that have affected both domestic life and agricultural production.

Mr. Adams is now appealing to the Lawra Municipal Assembly, the central government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to urgently intervene by drilling boreholes and rehabilitating the community's dam.

He believes restoring access to clean and reliable water will not only improve the health of residents but also revive farming activities, strengthen livelihoods and reduce the burden on women and children.

"Access to clean water is a basic right," Mr. Adams said, urging authorities to act swiftly to address the community's long-standing water crisis before it worsens.