“Water” they say is life; but paying tariffs on water become a problem to the Community when it is high.
An increase on water tariff by the Bechem Water and Sanitation Board has become a problem which needed attention and an amicable solution to it.
A decision by the Bechem Water Board to increase the water tariff from GP20 to GP50 has aroused tension to the extend that a forum has been organized to discuss the issue which did not meet the hearts of the good people of Bechem.
The decision to increase the tariff has taken the attention of the Bechem Traditional council and the Tano South District Assembly but the two bodies also needed the views of the Bechem Community.
It is in this regard that the Traditional Council, the Assembly and the water board called for a public forum which was held at Bechem.
Enumerating the factors which has called for the increase in the water tariff of a bucket of “34” , Mr. Adu Gyamfi the Public Relations Officer of the Bechem Water Board said the water system of Bechem was handed over to the Bechem Water Board in June, 2002 and have since run it to present.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi said, at the initial stage of the Board’s work the Community was to contribute 5% of the total cost of the water supply system with the government and a donor agency providing 95% of the cost.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi said the Board inherited six (6) boreholes comprising of three (3) at the Bechem Presec which served the Bechem Community, one (1) at Bechem Junction and two (2) at the Telecom Site.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi said since the board took over the water supply system of Bechem, a lot has been done but much needs to be done to improve the water situation of Bechem and all these could be done when adequate resources in terms of finance have been achieved.
He said electricity bills paid by the board have increased tremendously, and also the cost of maintenance which he said needs to be dome regularly since the machines they inherited have outlived it’s life span or is overaged.
He said staff at the boards office also needs to be paid salaries whilst board members are also to receive allowances, this he said has made it necessary for the board to increase it’s tariff since it has also been able to provide a modern toilet facility for the people of Bechem with the little profit they accrued since their last increment in 2004.
The District Chief Executive for Tano South Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba in a speech at the forum said the gathering which is of the Water Board and the Community has become necessary since a team from the Board has approached the Traditional Council and the assembly on the increase of water tariff by the water board.
Hon. Anaba said the two (2) bodies alone could not take a decision on the issue since it needed the views of the consumers also
Hon. Anaba said some problems which the Board mentioned as factors agitating for the increase included high electricity tariffs, increase in population which needs extending water to some areas which lack water and the high maintenance cost of the over aged machine which is in use for the supply of water to Bechem and it’s environs.
Hon. Anaba cautioned that the forum was not of any political dimension but an issue confronting the people of Bechem which needs to be tackled with diligence.
The District Chief Executive said the assembly’s prime aim is how best the water board could improve the quality of service, and hinted that the Tano South District Assembly would include the rate which would be agreed upon in it’s fee fixing resolution.
Various speakers at the open forum expressed disgust at the board’ decision to increase the water tariff.
Some agitated that the board in some years back have not accounted for moneys collected and has since not provided a generating plant they collected money to purchase for use when lights are out.
Various pleas also came from the people for the existing tariff to be mention since any increase would not meet the consent of the people and if any at all should be GP30.
There were various agitations which made a speaker to suggest that votes should be cast to determine those who were in favour of the increment and those who were not in favour, but this suggestion was brushed away.
Tension started to mount when some youths started chanting and singing to the effect that they would not accept or honour any increase in the tariff.
The tension which, was mounting aroused the attention of the District Chief Executive who called for calm and called for the suspension of the decision by the board to increase the tariff until further notice.
The function was chaired by Nana Sekyere the Akyempemhene of Bechem Traditional Council who commented on issues raised by various speakers and called on all to take the welfare of Bechem at heart.
DISTRICT INFORMATION OFFICER
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