Elder statesman and retired diplomat K.B. Asante has challenged President John Mahama to come up with answers to resolve the water and power crisis rocking the country. His call echoes the frustrations some Ghanaians have been expressing as the crisis interrupts daily life and commerce. The Ghana Water Company is rationing water in some parts of Accra due to malfunctioning filters at its Weija Dam while the Electricity Company of Ghana has also embarked on a load shedding exercise as a result of a shortfall in the power supply. Both organizations have remarked on the need for more funding to improve their operations, but Mr Asante says it is time the president offers clear indications on how his administration will resolve the crisis. Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem show Tuesday, Mr Asante demanded that the president “tell us how we can get out of these unnecessary hardships we are having.” “Those who have money can buy generator and so on. But even they pollute the atmosphere unnecessarily. They are [also] expensive. And when industry uses generators where they can use cheap electricity, we pay the price.” The diplomat is also advocating that consumers pay the proper price for utilities, a shift that he believes would guarantee a constant supply of water and electricity. “It is better for us to pay a proper water bill so that water is maintained. We get water in our houses every day. Water is so important... In my view there is no reason why we shouldn't have electricity supply all the time. It may be more expensive, but let us pay the proper price so that we have electricity. And not this on and off business; it is ridiculous.” He also attributed the current situation to a lack of planning by those in leadership positions. “This is a problem facing the nation, lack of planning. And you may call it lack of leadership, not necessarily that of the president but those in key positions, and if they don't do their work the president should see that they go. We are suffering unnecessarily.”