Acute water shortages hit Kumasi as power outages cripple Barekese, Owabi plants

An acute water shortage has hit sections of the Greater Kumasi Metropolis, leaving thousands of residents scrambling after days of dry taps.

For three consecutive days, households across the city have had no running water, forcing families and businesses to depend on hand-dug wells and other underground sources to survive.

“We are really struggling in accessing water. Getting water for cooking and even bathing your kids for school is difficult. We are always searching for water every morning,” a resident of Atonsu lamented.

Another said, “These unannounced water and power cuts are really becoming too much.”

The regional office of Ghana Water Limited blames the crisis on unstable electricity supply to its key treatment facilities.

Power fluctuations at the Barekese and Owabi treatment plants have significantly reduced water production and distribution.

According to the utility provider, low voltage levels at the plants have made it impossible to pump and supply adequate potable water to affected communities.

In the last few days, the Greater Kumasi metropolis has witnessed intermittent power cuts, with the latest outage recorded on Monday, February 23, 2026.

The Electricity Company of Ghana has linked the power cuts to localised cable faults and transformer challenges.

The ECG indicated that Monday’s outage was a result of an underground cable fault at the Ridge Bulk Supply point near the Georgia Hotel.

Another blast was detected in Ejisu after a third-party interference, necessitating an emergency shutdown of power to Ejisu and its environs.

The company reports that repair works have been completed and supply restored.

Despite the power restoration, many communities struggle to access potable water after their taps flowed briefly at night.