The Deputy Spokesperson for the Mahama 2024 Campaign, Beatrice Annan Esq has taken a sharp jab at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its record on water infrastructure.
The opposition National Democratic Congress Communicator, in scathing critique, accused the current government of neglecting water production and failing to build upon the achievements made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under former President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
“The NPP has done nothing to invest in our water production except to destroy the existing water bodies. They say what is #JohnMahama coming to do again? #JohnMahama/NDC is coming to improve the achievements below so we can have good drinking water”.
Beatrice Annan Esq, Deputy Spokesperson for Mahama 2024 Campaign
NDC’s Record on Water Infrastructure
The Deputy Spokesperson for the Mahama 2024 Campaign’s statement outlined a series of projects initiated and completed under the erstwhile Mahama administration, all aimed at expanding Ghana’s water production capacity.
She emphasized the significance of these projects in providing millions of gallons of water daily to homes and businesses across the country.
Under the NDC administration, Lawyer Beatrice Annan strongly asserted that a total of 77.5 million gallons of water per day was added to the national water supply system, a feat that she argued the NPP has failed to sustain or improve upon.
She credited the erstwhile Mahama’s administration for the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project (Phase 1), asserting that the major project contributed 40 million gallons of water per day, significantly enhancing the supply to several communities, particularly in the Greater Accra Region.
NDC’s Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) Water Supply Project
Lawyer Beatrice Annan also indicated that the erstwhile Mahama and the NDC’s Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) Water Supply Project added 9.2 million gallons per day, a crucial investment in improving access to water in densely populated urban areas.
Lawyer Beatrice Annan again noted that Ghana’s first-ever desalination project under Mahama provided 13.2 million gallons of clean water daily, particularly benefiting coastal and peri-urban areas that faced chronic water shortages.
Another vital initiative under the NDC’s administration according to her was the Nsawam Water Supply Project, affirming that the project increased the water supply by 1.7 million gallons per day, significantly improving water availability in the Nsawam area.
Essakyir Water Supply Project (Phase 1) and Five Town Water Projects
Moreover, Lawyer Beatrice Annan touted the Essakyir Water Supply Project (Phase 1) which was done by the NDC’s administration, adding that the project added 3.2 million gallons of water per day, serving several communities that had previously struggled with limited access to potable water in the Central Region.
According to her, the NDC also undertook the development of the five towns Water Supply Project including water infrastructure in Kyebi, Osenase, Anyinam, Apedwa, and Kwabeng, resulting in an additional 1.5 million gallons of water daily.
Shifting her focus to the Ashanti Region, Lawyer Beatrice Annan recounted the expansion of the Barekese water system in Kumasi under former President Mahama’s tenure which led to an extra 6 million gallons of water being added to the supply chain.
Asante Mampong Water Supply Project which was also done by the NDC’s administration according to Lawyer Beatrice Annan contributed 1.6 million gallons per day, further addressing the water needs of communities in the Ashanti Region.
NPP’s Alleged Negligence and Environmental Harm
In her critique, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Mahama 2024 Campaign, Lawyer Beatrice Anna accused the NPP of not only failing to invest in new water production projects but also exacerbating the country’s water challenges by causing environmental damage.
She pointed to the degradation of water bodies under the NPP’s watch, particularly through unchecked illegal mining (galamsey), which has rendered many rivers and streams unusable as sources of clean water.
According to her, the NPP’s poor handling of Ghana’s water resources has effectively “eroded all the gains” that the NDC made during former President Mahama’s presidency.
She contended that rather than building upon the foundation laid by the NDC, the current government has allowed water infrastructure to deteriorate, leaving many Ghanaians without reliable access to potable water.
The Call for Mahama’s Return
As part of her message, Lawyer Beatrice Annan underscored the urgency for former President John Mahama’s return to power, asserting that the former president is best positioned to restore the country’s water sector.
She assured Ghanaians that former President Mahama would not only seek to improve upon the existing projects but would also initiate new water infrastructure developments to ensure that every Ghanaian has access to safe and clean drinking water.
In conclusion, Lawyer Beatrice Annan’s statement serves as a timely reminder of the NDC’s efforts to address water production during their time in power, while also framing the upcoming 2024 elections as an opportunity to reverse what she described as the NPP’s neglect of the country’s water needs.
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