President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the Anomansa Cluster Water System in the Mfantseman constituency and the Papaase Cluster Water System, in Awutu Senya West, to symbolise the commissioning of 146 completed rural water systems in the Central Region.
The construction of each of the 146 water systems began in 2017 with a US$47.5 million credit facility from the World Bank.
The beneficiary municipal and district assemblies include Awutu Senya West, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Assin South, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Gomoa West, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, Mfantseman and Agona West.
In all, 154,826 people will be served with pipe-borne water in these communities. At the same time, 6,118 households have been supported to construct household latrines.
Commissioning the Anomansa Cluster Water System, President Akufo-Addo said the project, which was completed on 4 March 2020 at a cost of roughly $727,750 (GHC4.2 million), is currently serving a population of 7,400 residents.
“I have been made to understand that the choice of the Amasamkrom community for the commissioning of the Anomansa Cluster Water System is due to the fact that it is the central community in relation to all the 19 beneficiary communities within the cluster,” the president said.
He continued, “Further, Amasamkrom has worked hard to be officially declared an open defecation-free (ODF) community. I urge the municipal chief executive, Nananom and all stakeholders to continue to work hard to maintain this status.”
A boost to public health
At Jeikrodua in Awutu Senya West, President Akufo-Addo later commissioned the Papaase Cluster Water System, whose completion, he said, fulfils a 2016 campaign pledge.
He said that the Papaase Cluster Water System, which was completed on 24 February this year at a total cost of GHC11 million, is providing water to nearly 48,000 people in the community.
“Beneficiary communities include Jeikrodua, Opembo, Adawukwa, Yamoa Nkwanta, Mankumeda, Papaase No 1, Papaase No 2, Ofaakor, Oklu Nkwanta, Afadjator, Akufo Krodua, Osae-Krodua, Kwaobonzie, Dzan Nkwanta and Anomawobi. The date for the completion of this project meant that residents also benefited from my decision to provide free water for all Ghanaians for the months of April, May and June, in this era of COVID-19,” he added.
The president hoped that the 146 water systems would go a long way to enhance the country’s collective efforts at protecting Ghanaians from the spread of the new coronavirus disease. Residents, he said, will now not have any excuse to ignore the enhanced hygiene protocols of washing their hands regularly with soap under running water.
Pursuing the pledge
President Akufo-Addo assured Ghanaians that his government will not relent in its efforts to increase access to water for all, a manifesto commitment that remains a central priority.
“We have secured funding for two other rural-based water supply projects, namely, the Rural Communities and Small Towns Water Supply Project (RCSTWSP), otherwise known as the Aqua Africa Water Project, which will benefit 150 communities in the Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Oti and Volta Regions, and Phase III of the water supply scheme for Central Tongu, Adaklu Anyigbe, Agotime-Ziope Districts and the Ho Municipality,” he said.
Furthermore, the government, through the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, has awarded contracts for the construction of 645 mechanised boreholes nationwide.
The president encouraged inhabitants in the beneficiary communities who have the requisite skills in water systems management to take advantage of the employment opportunities created by the provision of the systems.
“Together, let us all protect and help maintain the water infrastructure, which has come at such significant expense to the taxpayer,” he said.
