President Akufo-Addo has commissioned the €37.6 million Upper East Region Water Supply Project.

According to him, the Upper East Region Water Supply System will provide the people of Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Paga and its environs with “20,500 cubic metres of water per day, which is approximately 4.5 million” of water per day. This, he noted, is a three-fold increase from the 1.5 million gallons a day originally available to the Region.

President Akufo-Addo indicated that government is working diligently to provide funds to improve the water supply situation in other parts of the country. He revealed that this is with the objective of ensuring equity and an improved quality of life to all communities in the country. He highlighted that works will commence, by the end of the year, on the Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Expansion Project in the Western Region, the Tamale and Yendi Water Supply Projects, both in the Northern Region, and Damongo Water Supply Project in the Savannah Region.

“It is, thus, worthy to mention that works have commenced on the Keta Water Supply Expansion Project in the Volta Region, the Wenchi Water Supply Project in the Bono Region, and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project in the Ashanti Region.”
President Akufo-Addo

Apart from Bolgatanga, Navrongo and Paga, communities such as Zuarungu, Zarre, Sumbrungu, Kalbeo, Gambibigo, Winkogo, the President explained that communities such as Bongo, Yorogo, Pungu and Akomkongu are also set to benefit from the project. He emphasized that some 347,446 people in total, will be served with safe, potable water.

Availability of potable water

President Akufo-Addo stated that the execution and completion of the Upper East Water Supply Project falls in line with the programme of government to achieve the target set under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. He further expressed government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment, through the provision of social infrastructure that will attract businesses to communities.

“Accordingly, I expect that with the availability of potable water in this area, investors will take advantage of Government’s Flagship Programmes, such as ‘One- District, One-Factory’, to establish small and medium scale enterprises to create employment for young people, so as to stimulate the growth and development of the domestic economy.”
President Akufo-Addo

Commenting on the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project, he revealed that processes have started to develop the Phase Two of the project which will augment the supply of water to the people of Greater Accra. With this, he urged inhabitants of the beneficiary communities in the Upper East Region to help to maintain the water infrastructure, “so we can continue to have access to potable water and, through that, ensure the general well-being and health of all the respective communities”.

“The Fanteakwa-Begoro Water Supply Project in the Eastern Region, the Tarkwa Water Supply Project in the Western Region, the Techiman Water Supply Project in the Bono East Region, the Assin Fosu Water Supply Project in the Central Region, the Western North Region Water Supply Project, the Hohoe Water Supply Project in the Volta Region, and the Kumasi Water Supply Project in the Ashanti Region are all in the pipeline, to help respond to the growing demand for water.”
President Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the Netherlands government for the considerable financial support for the project, through its ORIO funding. He equally acknowledged the great contribution the project will have in the urban water supply delivery to the people of the Upper East Region.