The practice of burying the dead in residential compounds is hindering efforts to provide potable water to residents of Abotareye, a farming community in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region.
The challenge came to light when the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nkwanta South, Mr Joseph Antwi Awal, visited the community following appeals by residents for access to safe drinking water.
Addressing community members, Mr Awal disclosed that technical assessments for a proposed mechanised borehole project had been halted after surveyors identified numerous burial sites within areas earmarked for water projects.
“Our engineers could not proceed because of concerns about the possible contamination of groundwater sources,” he said.
Following the MCE’s remarks, the Ghana News Agency team visited the community to verify the claims.
The visit confirmed the presence of several graves within residential compounds, corroborating concerns raised by the Municipal Assembly regarding the siting of water infrastructure in the community.
Mr Nko Kyerado, Chief Linguist of Abotareye, acknowledged the long-standing practice of home burials and said the community had accepted the Assembly’s advice to discontinue the practice.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, he said a parcel of land had been identified and set aside for the establishment of a community cemetery to ensure that future burials take place at a designated location.
“We have secured land for a cemetery and will ensure that all future burials are conducted there. We are committed to working with the Assembly to facilitate the water project and improve living conditions in the community,” he said.
Speaking on the health implications of home burials, Mr John Kwesi Napari, Krachi East Municipal Director of Sanitation, said burying the dead close to water sources could pose risks to groundwater quality, particularly in cases involving recent burials.
“When a person dies, the cause of death must be established. Fresh bodies buried near water sources may contribute to contamination of underground water through decomposition.
This is one of the reasons sanitation authorities discourage home burials,” he explained.
Mr Napari, however, noted that older graves generally posed minimal risk to groundwater because aquifers are located far below the depth of most graves.
“Most graves are about six feet deep, while underground water sources are much deeper. Therefore, burials that occurred many years ago are less likely to affect groundwater quality,” he added.
Residents expressed optimism that the designation of a community cemetery would remove a major obstacle to the provision of potable water and other development projects in the area.
GNA
