Residents of Chiyifoyili, Upper West Region, Ghana say a worsening water crisis in the farming community is not only disrupting daily life but also putting strain on marital relationships.

A JoyNews Hotline Documentary titled “Thirst in the North”, produced by a team led by Nana Boakye Yiadom, found that only one of the community’s two dams remains functional, serving about 11 communities as well as their livestock.

At the chief’s palace, residents shared the challenges they face as a result of the lack of potable water.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Alhasan Musa said the scarcity is beginning to affect intimate aspects of family life.

“Even when it comes to sex, we are affected. Because when you have sex, there is no water to bathe, and this is affecting our relationships,” he told JoyNews.

Residents are therefore calling for urgent intervention to ensure reliable access to clean water, stressing that the shortage goes beyond daily chores and is now disrupting family life in the community.

The chief of Chiyifoyili, Gbanaa, said the situation becomes more severe during every dry season.

According to him, residents are often forced to share the dams with their livestock or buy potable water at high prices, a burden he described as “unbearable”, particularly for households with large families.

The new documentary focuses on the water situation in all five regions of northern Ghana. Watch the full film below.