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Some farmers in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region have allegedly diverted tap water meant for surrounding communities into private dams to irrigate their farms.
The alleged diversion was uncovered during a monitoring tour by officials of the Ada West District Assembly, led by Mr Mordjifa Tanihu Jerry John Foreigner Mills-Nkrumah, the District Chief Executive (DCE).
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Afiadenyigbah, Mr Mills-Nkrumah said he had earlier received complaints about suspicious activities affecting water supply in parts of the district.
He explained that while on a road inspection tour with district engineers working with the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) machines, he recalled the complaints and decided to inspect some dams in the area.
According to him, the team discovered that water pipes had allegedly been disconnected from the main supply lines and diverted into dams, where pumping machines were being used to channel the water to nearby farms.
“I am surprised to see such a criminal act by these farmers, and we are going to make sure that whoever is involved faces the full rigours of the law,” he stated.
The DCE described the act as an attempt to sabotage government efforts to provide potable water to communities and stressed that no one would be shielded from accountability.
“Even if my own mother is involved, she will face the law,” he stressed.
The GNA observed at the scene that numerous pipes were connected to the dams, with water being pumped to irrigate large stretches of farmland, suggesting that more than one person might be involved.
Some farmers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that individuals managing the diverted supply charged fees to other farmers who depended on the dam water for irrigation, with payments varying according to farm size.
Two water pumping machines were retrieved from the site. Officers from the Sege Police Command visited the area and have commenced investigations.
Meanwhile, a community source told the GNA that residents had experienced prolonged interruptions in water supply and expressed shock at reports that water was allegedly being diverted to private farms.
The source further alleged possible collusion between some individuals and officials of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, though this claim has not been independently verified.
As of the time of filing this report, no arrests had been made.
Source: GNA