President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that the government is committed to provide all of Ghana with water that is safe, sufficient, and reasonably priced.
He cut the sod for the Five Districts Water Supply Project in September 2020, and on Monday, July 3, 2023, he officially launched Phase Three in Adaklu in the Volta Region.
Around 89,150 people in 95 settlements in Central Tongu, Adaklu, and Agotime-Ziope would benefit from the project, which is being funded by a concessionary facility from Raiffeisen Bank International AG of Austria at a cost of €11.5 million.
As stated by the President Akufo-Addo, some of the key components of the Project are the construction of three (3) concrete tanks at Adaklu Kpeleho, Adaklu Sofa and Adaklu Kpatove, to help keep the water safe from any bacteria; the completion of a water booster station at Adaklu Kpeleho to transport water to Adaklu and Agotime-Ziope communities; and the laying of one hundred and seventy-five (175) kilometres of water pipelines.
The President informed the audience that Phase IV of the Project’s plans are currently under way and that the government is working to ensure that all regions of the nation have access to adequate, safe, cost-effective, and dependable water services.
“We are also committed to ensuring that we practice safe sanitation and hygiene by the year 2030, in line with the attainment of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Our strategic goal is to use a multi-faceted approach, with emphasis on governance and sector institutional strengthening, to accelerate access to equitable WASH services throughout Ghana.”
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Moreover, President Akufo-Addo said his administration has made considerable strides toward the aim of supplying clean water and sanitation to everyone.
He cited the commissioning of finished projects under the Ghana-Spain Debt Swap Development’s Water Supply Improvement Project, carried out by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), at a total cost of US$3.78 million, for a beneficiary population of 75,000, in September 2020.
“That Project seeks to expand access to and ensure sustainable services in thirty-six (36) rural and small towns/communities in the Ho, Ho West, Agotime-Ziope and South Dayi Districts. Outstanding works are expected to be completed by March next year.”
“Again, on 30th June, 2020, I also commissioned Cluster Water Systems at Bontrase and Amasamkrom in the Central Region, as part of the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (SRWSP).”
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
These commissioning ceremonies, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, were funded by a US$47.5 million credit facility from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. They therefore served as a symbol of the completion of similar water systems installed in eleven (11) out of sixteen (16) regions of the country.
He emphasized that Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Western, Western North, Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper West, and Upper East were the other beneficiary Regions.
He continued that the project’s components included building piped water supply systems, funding for building household latrines, health and hygiene education, and environmental and social safeguards for 154,826 people living in 136 beneficiary communities.
To benefit a total population of about 282,000 people, the government is enhancing access to sustainable water delivery in the Volta, Oti, Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions under the Rural Communities and Small Towns Water Supply Project (RCSTWSP), which will cost €30 million. The Project is still underway and around 17% of it is finished.
Water for All Urban Communities
Regarding the “Water for All” Agenda in urban areas, the President noted that the €85,112,854 Keta Water Supply Project, which is being carried out by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources through the Ghana Water Company Limited, would also enhance the dependability and sustainability of water supply to a beneficiary population of approximately 422,160 in Keta and surrounding communities.
He stated that the project’s work is anticipated to be finished by December 2024.
Additionally, the Wenchi Water Project, which will cost €39 million to complete, will build a new water treatment facility and renovate the community’s existing groundwater infrastructure to meet its water needs now and through the year 2045.
“The Project is expected to serve some 101,870 people living within Wenchi and its environs,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo also indicated that the Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Project, which would cost approximately €70 million and service 1.4 million beneficiaries inside Sekondi-Takoradi villages, is anticipated to be finished by September 2025.
“The feasibility studies for the proposed Sogakope-Lome Transboundary Water Supply Project are ninety-eight percent (98%) complete, and funding would be sought to achieve sustainable improvement to access to drinking water for four million consumers in the Project area.
“In Ghana, the Project beneficiaries will include the Southern Volta area, more specifically the Municipal/Districts of Keta, Ketu South, Ketu North, South Tongu and Akatsi South.”
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
READ ALSO: Teargas Fired, One Hurt During Large Protest Against Poor Roads In Shama