Mbowura and surrounding communities in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region are grappling with a worsening water crisis, leading to escalating marital tensions and communal disputes.
Over a dozen communities currently rely on a single borehole, forcing women to queue for hours daily in a desperate bid to fetch water.
This crisis underscores Ghana’s ongoing struggle to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims for universal access to clean and safe drinking water by 2030. Despite some progress, rural communities like Mbowura remain severely underserved.
According to residents, the water scarcity is tearing families apart. Men in the community report that their wives abandon them at night to queue for water, straining family relationships. “Our wives spend all night searching for water, leaving little or no time for family bonding,” one resident said.
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Nmibi Nagar, a mother of five, expressed her frustration, emphasizing the toll on children’s education and local businesses. “Our children skip classes every day because they spend time queuing for hours before they can get water, and by the time they get to school, it’s too late. This is distracting their learning ability,” she told Graphic Online’s Simon Unyan during a visit to the community.
For some families, the strain goes beyond emotional distress. Mr. Dramani Kasim lamented that he has had to take over childcare responsibilities while his wife spends most of her day fetching water. “Productivity is slow here for us because men should be on the farm at daybreak, but instead, we stay home with the children while our wives search for water. By the time they return, it’s too late for farming,” he explained.
The crisis is also affecting marriage prospects for young men in the area. Madam Tiyabicha Umoani noted that many young women now avoid marrying into Mbowura and its neighboring communities for fear of enduring similar hardships.
The Assemblyman for the Kpandai West Electoral Area, Mr. Haruna Abudu Karim, confirmed that the situation is dire. “The single borehole is not enough to meet the growing demand for safe and clean drinking water. This is leading to unnecessary clashes and social tensions. We are appealing to individuals, philanthropists, NGOs, and the government to provide mechanized boreholes to resolve the crisis,” he said.
To address the crisis, the government must increase investment in rural water infrastructure, particularly through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA). Additionally, introducing sustainable water management systems and fostering partnerships with development agencies could help bridge the gap.
Without urgent intervention, Mbowura’s water crisis could further escalate into social unrest and hinder the community’s development. Residents remain hopeful that their plea for clean, safe water will be heard, restoring peace, family unity, and better opportunities for their children.
