Some parts of the Tamale Metropolis have experienced water shortage as a result of their taps being shut for several months.

Some residents of the Zujung and Dundu communities said they have had to rely on unclean water. Their situation is worsened with the onset of the harmattan which is drying up most of the water bodies.

According to these residents, they cannot remember the last time water dropped from their taps.

A JoyNews visit revealed how the water situation has forced residents of these communities to rely on murky water from hand-dugout small pits behind the Zoomlion Company Limited offices on the Zujung cemetery road.

For these residents, the “mapuka pits”, a name they have coined for this water source, is what they have been relying on since the rains stopped.

But they are afraid their only source of water will soon dry up.

These and many other communities in Tamale face this crisis every year, especially during the dry season.

Last year, many communities in both Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality suffered severe water crisis, forcing residents to travel several kilometres in search of water.

Speaking to JoyNews, Fuseini Halima, a 14-year-old and basic 6 pupil of the Manhaliya Primary School and a resident of Zujung said it is a daily routine for her to wake up as early as 4:00am in search of water.

She said most often, she reports to school late because she has to battle with older women for the water, which she described as a herculean task.

She appealed to the right authorities to address their concern.

Another resident of Sagnarigu Dungu, Karim Kande said she just put to bed last week, but had to abandon her newborn baby at home and search for water.

She said a gallon of water now sells at GH¢2, something she said they can not afford every day. She called on the Assemblyman for the area to help them address this concern.

She said if their concern is not addressed, politicians will have them to contend with come December 2024.

Another resident, Abdul Wahab Sikena, also a resident of Sagnarigu Dungu said they spend most of their entire day at “mapuka pits” making it difficult for them to attend to other equally important activities like work.

She said both communities have taps dotted around, but they do not flow, compelling them to rely on this source.

Madam Sikena said water and good roads are their major challenges and therefore urged authorities to come to their aid.

She threatened that they will not vote if their concerns are not addressed before 2024.