channel247 online
A worsening water shortage has hit several senior high schools in the Tamale Metropolis, leaving students struggling to access clean water and disrupting teaching and learning on affected campuses.
Among the hardest-hit institutions are Ghana Senior High School, Vitting Senior High School, Dabokpe Technical Institute and Presbyterian Senior High School. For months, students say they have endured severe difficulty accessing safe and reliable water, turning a basic necessity into a daily struggle.
With taps on campus running dry, many students have been forced to embark on long and exhausting journeys to the Kukuo Dam in search of water. The dam, which primarily serves surrounding communities and livestock, has become the main alternative water source for hundreds of students.
The situation has raised serious health and sanitation concerns, as the same water body is shared with cattle, goats, sheep and other animals. Students say the water is untreated and they often lack the means to purify it before consumption.
Some students, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the situation as frustrating and worrying. According to them, the water fetched from the dam is used for drinking, cooking, soaking gari, bathing and washing.
“We know the water is not safe, but we have no option,” one student said. “If we don’t fetch it, we cannot cook or even drink.”
Beyond health risks, the crisis is also affecting academic work. Students revealed that some are compelled to leave classrooms during instructional hours to search for water, missing valuable lessons in the process. Others wake before dawn or stay out late in the evening just to secure a few buckets.
In many cases, students must cross busy highways to reach the dam, exposing them to the risk of road accidents. Several say the physical exhaustion and emotional stress are affecting their concentration and overall academic performance.
Parents and community members have also expressed concern, urging immediate intervention from authorities. Students are appealing to the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana Water Limited, school management and other stakeholders to take urgent steps to restore reliable water supply.
As the shortage persists, fears are growing that the situation could escalate into serious health complications and further disrupt education if swift action is not taken. For now, students continue to endure the hardship, hoping their concerns will prompt lasting solutions.
Source: Ghana/channel247online.com/PhilemonAdiebuga
Yaw Boagyan
Rafiq Adam
