GWL cuts off water supply to some Ashanti communities amid staff housing dispute

A long-simmering dispute between the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) and a private developer has boiled over, leaving several communities in the Ashanti Region without access to water.

The GWL has suspended its water supply to the affected areas in response to the demolition of staff bungalows by the private developer.

In an interview with Citi News, Emmanuel Akpoti Kodiah, Vice Chair of the GWL Workers' Union stated that the union had withdrawn its services in protest against the "unlawful destruction" of the bungalows.

“We withdrew our staff from the operational centres, [including] the pumps that transmit water and the power valves that distribute…till we hear from the rightful authorities about the way forward, a restoration and a hands-off on our properties, We will be on this for a while. The Union eventually will have to meet and take a decision on how long this is going to be.”

The move has sparked concerns about the potential disruption of water services to consumers in the coming weeks. The union has vowed to remain on strike until the issue is addressed and a resolution is reached.

In a surprising twist, authorities have revealed that the land on which the demolished bungalows were situated is part of a 400-acre property ceded to the Asantehene as part of a historical compensation settlement. The affected staff have been allocated alternative accommodations, but the GWL union has yet to respond to these developments.

Source: Lead News Online