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 Worsening Tamale water crisis:  Bupiala residents scoop water from dried dam  …to quench thirst

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RESIDENTS of Bupiala have been hit hard by the acute water shortage that has engulfed the Tamale Metropolis for some time now, follow­ing the drying out of the Bupiala Dam.

The dam which served as a major source of water for residents in Bupiala, and those living within its immediate environs went dry due to the prolonged dry spell and unprecedented high levels of heat being experienced in the north­ern part of the country.

This has exacerbated the already precarious water situation in the area, taking a heavy toll on residents, as they have to travel long distances scavenging for water.

For some time now, the Tamale Me­tropolis and its environs have run short of water, due to the inability of the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) to supply the water demands of the growing population.

According to GWL the daily demand for water in the metropolis stands at 90,000 cubic metres, while production is between 35,000 and 38,000 cubic me­tres, indicating demand outstrips supply.

The Ghanaian Times has gathered that the Tamale water system was built in 1972, with only one major expansion in 2008, but still lacks the capacity to meet the growing demands of the sprawling metropolis.

Though the metropolis have been experiencing intermittent water short­ages, this year’s has been severe as the long dry spell has dried out a number of dams which served as the alternative sources of water for residents.

The situation has become so dire that residents compete with animals for water from some of the muddy puddles around.

A visit by The Ghanaian Times to Bu­piala last Tuesday revealed the hardship residents go through in getting water on daily basis for domestic use.

Not only has the situation impacted domestic users, but also plants and animals who depended on it have come under intense pressure.

The dam which was once a vital source of sustenance has turned into a playground for children, who chase each other across its dry, hardened floor.

It has become a common scene as both women and children, armed with rusted tins and buckets were seen dig­ging tirelessly into the hard ground of the dam for hours, desperately trying to find water, The Ghanaian Times observed.

According to a herder who operates in the area, Alhassan, “Even the cattle refuse to drink from the puddle within the dam due to the colour of the water. They just sniff, play in it, and walk away.”

The desperation of residents is en­capsulated by Amina Seidu, a mother of four who had blisters in her hands due to digging for water from the ground.

“We have no money like others to buy water. So, we come here at dawn to dig and fetch. Sometimes, we’re lucky to get two buckets before the sun rises, she told The Ghanaian Times.

She explained that beyond their personal suffering, the drying up of the dam had devastated the once-thriving ecosystem of the area.

On his part, the Assemblyman for the area, Haruna Alhassan, expressed deep concern over the situation.

“This is more than just a seasonal inconvenience — it is a humanitarian crisis. We’ve made countless appeals for intervention, but the people of Bupiala continue to suffer in silence,” he said.

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 Tooth decay cases rises in Tema

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• Visit dentist regularly to avoid tooth decay

 Dr Kakra Bonsu Appiah, Head of the Dental and Oral Surgery Department at the Tema General Hospital, says tooth decay has become the most common dental problem affecting residents of Tema.

Dr Appiah mentioned that there have been more patients reporting with cavities, tooth­aches, and other compli­cations linked to poor oral hygiene.

He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that tooth de­cay was caused by the breakdown of the tooth’s structure due to acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, which thrive on sugary foods and poor brushing habits, making good oral hygiene practices essential in preventing the disease.

“The most common cause of dental caries is poor oral hygiene. When you look at how dental caries form, you will understand that poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of dental caries; it is about leaving food debris around the teeth,” he stated.

Dr Appiah explained that many of the cases presented at the hospital could have been avoided through regular brushing, proper diet, and timely dental check-ups, emphasising that maintaining oral health was not just about having clean teeth but also plays a critical role in overall well-being.

He advised residents to brush their teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss regularly to remove food particles between teeth, and reduce the intake of sugary snacks and drinks, as well as visit the dentist twice a year.

The dentist also expressed concern that people only visited the hospital when the pain became unbearable, urging Ghanaians to visit the dentist regularly to prevent emergencies.

Dr Appiah further appealed to parents to educate children on good oral hygiene practices from an early age and reduce their intake of sugary foods. —GNA

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Cake Tekniks holds 59th graduation ceremony

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About 30 students on Sunday graduated from the 59th gradua­tion ceremony of Cake Tekniks In­ternational, a privately-owned modern cake designing and sugar craft school in Accra.

During the ceremony, all gradu­ates were presented with certifi­cates while 13 of them also re­ceived professional diploma.

The founder of Cake Tekniks International, Mrs Jane Addo, said her outfit was dedicated to pro­viding world standard skills, knowledge and hands-on training necessary for one to succeed worldwide in the culinary industry.

Mrs Jane Addo addressing students and guests at the ceremony

She encouraged the students to embrace the opportunities, challenges and experiences, mindful of the fact that they are well-equipped.

“Hold your heads up while you build a goodwill between your clients and your­selves,” she added.

Mrs Addo said the school was pas­sionate about fostering the culture of creativity, motivation and excellence with the belief that every student had the potential to make a lasting impact in the culinary world.

The founder and leader of QA Con­sult, Mr Johnson Opoku-Boateng, said graduation was a witness to the unveil­ing of talents, passion and hard work and testament to months of dedication and hands-on-learning.

He urged the graduands to ensure that their cakes were safe and good for human health and that their success would be dependent on how well they serve, create and grow.

The event also saw the exhibition of cakes and pastries by the students.

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 Volta College Foundation donates GH¢9,000 to 9-yr-old fire victim

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Some members of the foundation with Mr Dumevi and a staff of the hospital
Some members of the foundation with Mr Dumevi and a staff of the hospital

 A delegation from the Volta College Foun­dation, a non-govern­mental organisation, has donated GH¢9,000.00 to the family of nine-year-old Victoria Atsoribo, who suffered severe burns in a fire accident at home.

The donation was made at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where Victoria is currently on admission and undergoing treatment.

Led by women’s or­ganiser of the foundation, Madam Mawulawoe Ame­dorme and Deputy PRO, Ms Rebecca Gollo, the delegation said the NGO launched a support cam­paign for Victoria, with the aim to ease the finan­cial burden on Victoria and her family.

Madam Amedorme said “thanks to the overwhelm­ing generosity of our members and the general public, we were able to raise funds to support her treatment and recovery.”

Receiving the dona­tion, Victoria’s uncle, Mr Bright Danquah Dumevi, expressed gratitude to the leadership and members of the foundation for their kindness and support.

He said Victoria was transferred from Marga­ret Marquart Hospital in Kpando to Korle Bu Teach­ing Hospital in Accra for specialised care.

According to Mr Dume­vi, Victoria was currently undergoing planned staged skin grafting (surgery) as part of her treatment.

Your kind gesture has made a profound impact on her recovery journey, bringing hope and joy to her healing process.

He said the contribu­tions from the foundation will help in taking care of Victoria’s bills, adding that “your support has allevi­ated a significant portion of the financial burden associated with her treat­ment, allowing her family to focus on her recovery.

He also appealed to the general public, be­nevolent individuals, and organisations to continue extending their support to Victoria to aid her recov­ery.

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