Oliver Baker Vormavor, the convener of the Fix the Country movement, has lamented that Ghana, once a nation built by Nkrumah’s vision, can no longer provide clean potable water to millions of its citizens.
This crisis, Vormawor attributed, is a direct result of irresponsible mining activities controlled by cartels comprising corrupt politicians, who prioritize profits over people’s welfare.
Vormavor noted that it is doubly tragic that just a few months after independence, when Kwame Nkrumah delivered his first Christmas message to a newly liberated Ghana, he had envisioned a vastly different future for the nation.
He noted that unfortunately, the reality today is exactly what Nkrumah had hoped to avoid, a stark contrast to his aspirations for a prosperous and equitable Ghana.
“In his [Nkrumah’s] words ‘We shall measure our progress by the improvement in the health of our people; by the number of children in school, and by the quality of their education; by the availability of water and electricity in our towns and villages, and by the happiness which our people take in being able to manage their own affairs. The welfare of our people is our chief pride, and it is by this that my Government will ask to be judged”.
Oliver Baker Vormavor
Vormawor voiced his utter dismay and astonishment at the stark irony of Ghana’s current water crisis, wondering how a country that was once a beacon of hope and progress under Nkrumah’s leadership could now be struggling to provide its citizens with access to clean and potable water.
He lamented that Ghana, once a proud nation, has been brought to its knees by the devastating consequences of criminal greed and deliberate malice, which have ravaged the legacy of its founding fathers.
Vormawor poignantly observed that every nation faces a critical juncture, where a fundamental choice must be made: whether to indulge the privileged few with luxuries or to prioritize the basic human right of access to safe drinking water for all citizens.
“Look at the choice we made”. – Oliver Barker Vormawor
Ghana’s Water Crisis: A ‘Sad’ Reality
Furthermore, Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, lamented the state of Ghana’s water, describing it as “sad” – a poignant indictment of the country’s failure to provide a basic human necessity for its citizens.
Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, condemned the government’s inaction on the water crisis, citing its failure to address the issue as a grave dereliction of duty.
The appalling condition of Ghana’s rivers after eight years of governance, he emphasized, is a damning indictment of the state’s abandonment of its responsibility to safeguard the environment.
“The president promised to put his presidency on the line if he failed to deal with illegal mining. His number two plans to deal with it if he becomes president. This should not wait to be dealt with after elections”.
Franklin Cudjoe
He warned that “death and decay” are intolerant and unrelenting, sparing no time for politicians to assume office or take action, and will continue to ravage communities if urgent attention is not given.
Franklin Cudjoe made a passionate plea to the government, urging them to seize the moment and take bold, swift action to tackle the crisis head-on, warning that indecision would have devastating consequences.
Additionally, Alan Kyerematen warned that the unchecked menace of galamsey is threatening to tear the nation asunder, causing irreparable damage to its social, economic, and environmental foundations.
He poignantly observed that Ghana’s lands, once full of life and promise, are now succumbing to death and decay, imperiling the nation’s future and leaving its people facing an uncertain tomorrow.
“This isn’t just a fight for today; it’s a battle for the generations to come”. – Alan Kyerematen
