Youth Climate Advocate Jerry Anaba Nyaaba has said climate change is worsening water scarcity in northern Ghana, with communities in the Upper East and Upper West regions increasingly struggling to access water for domestic use, schools and healthcare facilities.

Speaking at the WaterAid and JoyNews National Dialogue on Wednesday, August 12, Mr Nyaaba said the impact of climate change was becoming increasingly evident in the northern parts of the country, where declining groundwater availability was making it difficult for communities to rely on traditional sources such as wells.

He noted that in some areas of the Upper East Region, wells that previously provided water were now failing to yield water even after being dug.

“Sometimes when you dig a well this time, you don't get water. That is telling you something,” he said.

According to him, the situation could become more severe in the coming years if urgent measures are not taken to improve water security and build communities' resilience to climate change.

He warned that without intervention, communities could be forced to depend on water transported from other areas to replenish depleted water sources.

“This is a very terrible thing. Water scarcity for schools, for health centres, and even for households has become a major problem for the northern communities,” Mr Nyaaba said.

He said residents in some communities had to walk several kilometres to access potable water, sometimes spending hours fetching water for basic domestic needs.

The situation, he noted, was also affecting education, particularly during the dry season.

Mr Nyaaba said students in some senior high schools spend considerable time searching for water instead of preparing for classes.

“When you go to most of the senior high schools, from January to somewhere June, students spend much time searching for what to grab before going to class than the time they spend learning,” he said.

He added that water shortages were equally affecting health facilities and placing a disproportionate burden on women, who often bear responsibility for fetching water for households and institutions.

“Women suffer the most,” he stressed, describing the situation as a current reality rather than a distant threat.

Mr Nyaaba is therefore calling for urgent investments in climate-resilient water systems and infrastructure in northern Ghana.

He said the country must increase the number of dams and other water storage facilities in the north to help communities cope with prolonged dry periods.

“We need climate-resilient water. We need more dams in the north,” he said.

He also urged authorities to take advantage of the rainy season to harvest and store water for use during periods of scarcity.

“This is the time we have enough water. Can we start harvesting rainwater and be using it in the garden?” he asked.

Mr Nyaaba said the situation required coordinated action from government, development partners, communities and other duty bearers to prevent water scarcity from worsening.

He warned that failure to address the problem could have serious consequences for the future development and wellbeing of people in northern Ghana.