Residents of Gbegru Appeal for Potable Water

Residents of Gbegru in the Zingu Electoral Area of the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region are appealing to government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and philanthropists to support the community with potable water to alleviate the challenges they face in accessing safe drinking water.

Speaking exclusively to Kangyiri Radio on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, residents described the lack of potable water as one of the most pressing problems confronting the community.

According to them, the only available water source is located several kilometres away, compelling residents, particularly women and children, to undertake long and difficult journeys each day to fetch water for household use before proceeding to their farms.

A resident, Yaa Shaibu, said the situation has become unbearable and called for urgent intervention.

“One major challenge bedevilling us in this community is the lack of potable water. The source of water is far away from the community. We are appealing to NGOs to come to our aid because we suffer every day to get water for our homes before going to the farm,” she said.

She explained that residents must cross a river to access the community’s only water source, a situation that becomes particularly dangerous during the rainy season.

According to her, a wooden stick that previously served as a makeshift bridge to help residents cross the river has been washed away by floodwaters, exposing community members to greater danger whenever they attempt to fetch water.

According to Alimata Imori, the path leading to the borehole has become increasingly hazardous due to ongoing sand winning activities and the recent rains, making it difficult for women and children to access water safely.

“Our borehole is far away. There is sand winning there, and the rain has worsened the situation. I fell there, and my phone got spoilt,” she recounted.

The residents are therefore calling on the government, development partners, and charitable organisations to provide the community with a mechanised borehole or another reliable source of potable water to improve their living conditions and safeguard lives.