Stephen Anyanah, a philanthropist based in Navrongo, has handed over a borehole to provide clean drinking water to residents of Kapania in the Kassena-Nankana municipality.
The borehole, which was constructed with funding support from Jeff Beinstein (a friend of Anyanah) in the United States of America, will support the fewer boreholes in the Tampola electoral area to provide water for residents.
Access to drinking water in Kapania is a challenge. Residents depend on boreholes in distant communities in the Tampola electoral area for drinking water.
The residents, particularly women and girls, often spend more time and energy accessing water for household use. The girls are mostly left tired from fetching water and are sometimes not able to prepare for school in the morning, especially in the dry season.
The overreliance puts pressure on the fewer boreholes which often break down. When breakdowns occur, residents are compelled to go back to open water sources for water supply. This puts the lives of residents at risk of water-borne diseases.
Speaking at a brief commissioning, Stephen Anyanah hoped his intervention will alleviate the suffering residents of the predominantly farming community, particularly women and girls, go through to access drinking water.
He noted that water was important in the lives of the people and their economic activities. He added that authorities needed to prioritise the construction and repair of boreholes in rural communities.
“The community needs water. Water is so important, especially in the dry season in which everywhere is dry. Also, the area has fewer boreholes so if this one is added, it goes a long way to help them in the provision of water.
They (residents) said the government is to provide them boreholes but I am focused and mine is to supplement them.”
Anyanah urged the community to take very good care of the borehole so that it can last to benefit generations. He said he would monitor how the borehole is maintained from time to time.
The chief of the community, Ben Akamuriba, said the borehole will bring relief to residents who walk far distances daily to access water for domestic use.
He explained that the instances where residents and domestic animals compete for water at open sources will be in the past.
He praised the philanthropist for his intervention and appealed for more support for the community in the areas of health and education.
“Aside from the water challenge which has been addressed, we (Kapania) don’t have a school of our own. Our children go to school in other communities. Also, we have a clinic that has beds but does not have medicine for residents. So, I am appealing to the government to come to our aid and help us.” The chief appealed.
For his part, Aminu Mohammed, the Assemblyman for the Tampola electoral area, thanked the philanthropist for his intervention, which he stated will stop residents from depending on wells for water supply.
He said the borehole provided for his community was something the local assembly has not been able to do in the last ten years. Aminu was hopeful the borehole project will open doors for other donors to come and help the community to address its challenges in education and health.
Senyalah Castro
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