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ACUTE WATER shortage in the industrial hub of Ghana, Tema, has compelled industries within the harbour city and its environs to temporarily shut down their various plants for productions and lay off workers. The workers who have been laid off by some companies were asked to report to work when there is water for production. Officials of some of the companies told Daily Guide that they were losing billions of cedis due to unavailability of water for their productions as they had to shut down their plants until there was frequent flow of water. The Supply and Chain Manager, Unilever Ghana Limited, Naira Djako, mentioned that the company had temporarily laid-off some workers and shut down their plants due to the water shortage. Christopher Sarkodie, Assistant Public Affairs Department of Coca-Cola Bottle Ghana Limited, one of the leading beverage producers in the country, explained that the continuous interruption in water supply had affected the company�s production, as it had to shut down some of their plants. According to him, the shortage of water would increase their cost of production, saying although the company had its own water reservoirs, about 90 percent of its production depended largely on water supply from Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL). Mr. Sarkodie appealed to the GWCL to help rectify the situation since it might also lead to some workers being laid off if the situation remained same. Restaurants and various homes have also been affected by the acute water shortage, leaving residents dejected, miserable and thirsty as some have to depend on contaminated water for survival. Some of the areas affected are Ashaiman, Lebanon, Tema, Sakumono, Michelle Camp, Gbetsile, Kpone and Zenu. The communication manger of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited, mangers of Ghana Water Company Ltd, Stanley Martey, told Daily Guide that the water shortage in Accra and Tema was as a result of the shutdown of the Kpong water plant because of upgrading works being carried out by the Volta River Authority (VRA). He explained that immediately VRA completed its works, GWCL�s main transmission pipe line also went off, adding that they were doing everything possible to restore regular supply of water soon.