Residents of Penkpaari spend hours queuing for water amid acute shortage

Residents of Penkpaari in the Tokali Electoral Area of the Wa West District are grappling with a dire water shortage that forces them to spend between three to four hours each day queuing at the community’s only borehole.

The frustrated residents speaking to Info Radio revealed that the single borehole, which serves the entire community, is grossly inadequate for their growing population.

The long hours spent in line to fetch water are eating into their productive time, affecting livelihoods and daily activities.

“We have to wake up very early and wait hours just to get a few buckets of water. This makes it hard for us to go to our farms or do any meaningful work during the day,” one resident said.

Worse still, they say, is the situation when the borehole breaks down. During such times, residents struggle to find alternative sources of water for drinking and household use.

The Assembly Member for Tokali, Mr. Bonwiere David, echoed the concerns, noting that the water crisis extends beyond Penkpaari to nearby Tambilgie. According to him, the situation is negatively affecting farming activities, which are the main source of livelihood for most residents in the area.

“Our people are spending more time looking for water than working on their farms. This is a serious challenge for our communities, especially during the dry season,” he stated.

The residents are calling on the government and relevant authorities to provide additional boreholes and sustainable water solutions to ease the burden and improve their quality of life.