2 Major Water Projects Commissioned In CR

PRESIDENT J. A. Kufuor yesterday commissioned two major projects aimed at solving the perennial water problem in the Central Region.

They included the Cape Coast Water Supply Project at Sekyere Hemang, which involved the construction of a water treatment plant with the capacity to pump 6.6 million gallons of water daily, laying of 65 kilometres of water transmission and distribution lines, a reservoir, booster pumping station, and the rehabilitation of the existing headworks at Brimsu.

Estimated at 40 million euros, the project, funded by the governments of Ghana and The Netherlands, is expected to improve the water supply to the people of Cape Coast and its environs,  Komenda, Elmina and Abrem-Agona, among others which hitherto were not receiving enough supply.

The second project involved the commissioning of the Baafikrom Water Works and Supply System which  has the capacity to pump 2.1 million gallons of water daily to serve 18 towns and 13 villages.

It involved the construction of a new water treatment plant, transmission and distribution lines throughout the supply area.

Also funded by the Ghana and the Netherlands governments, the project was executed at the cost of 25.8 million euros. It is aimed at improving the reliability and quality of water supply to the three districts of Mfantseman, Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam and Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa.

President Kufuor said the project will ensure 24-hour water production without reliance on rainfall, and assist in reducing water-related diseases.

He said it was the expectation that the more reliable water supply situation in the area will benefit second-cycle and tertiary institutions in the region.

He said the commissioning of the projects demonstrated the government's commitment to providing clean and healthy drinking water to the people.

President Kufuor said that out of the six urban water supply systems in the region, government within a relatively short period of eight years, had been able to complete four, and expressed gratitude to the Dutch government for its support.

On the one at Assin Foso, he said, the government was in the process of securing funds to upgrade it to serve a larger community.

President Kufuor said a national water policy is to be issued to serve as the blueprint to guide in water production in the country.

Earlier in the day, President Kufuor cut the sod for work to begin on the inter-connection of Kasoa township and its environs to the Kwanyako Water Supply System.

The project, which is estimated at 12.2 million euros, is scheduled for completion in two years.