Mamadou Bah, the alkalo of the village who was speaking to The Point recently in an exclusive interview, lamented the difficulties his people encounter as a result of the water shortage.
Since the inception of the village 20 years ago, he said, the village has been without clean and potable drinking water, claiming that the women of the area use their hands to pull heavy gallons tied to a rope from the well every day.
Bah added: “We only get water in from an open well which is one kilometer away from the village. In fact, sometimes during the dry season, the well which is the only source of drinking usually gets dry, leaving hundreds of the villagers in dire need of water.”
Commenting on the difficulties his people are encountering, the alkalo said: “The recent water shortage being experienced has affected many of their domestic chores. What is even worrying to us is the fact that the well is open and anything could enter inside,” he lamented.
Drinking from an open well, he added, is not hygienic, adding: “Sometimes even after getting the water from the well, we will see some particles and insects in it thus making it not fit for drinking.”
“We only get clean and potable water in the rainy season when it rains. However, if it doesn’t rain, the well becomes dry and access to water becomes a challenge.”
Bah called on the government, philanthropists, individuals and companies to come to their aid and help them with clean water, something he said is “essential to human beings as one can’t live in the absence of water.”
Aside from the urgent need for clean water, the alkalo also urged the government to help them with electricity.
