Water Project For Urban/Rural Communities

The government has announced a $2.1 billion plan for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of 100 per cent water for both urban and rural communities by 2015.

While US$1.6 billion of the amount being sought will be for urban water provision, US$500 million will be for rural water supply.

The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, who gave the breakdown, said in spite of the huge sum involved, the government would stay on course to seek the funding to provide the needed infrastructure for the provision of water for all.

He maintained that the government had already shown its commitment to the goal by allocating GH¢30 million to the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to cover the initial cost of the implementation of the medium-term investment plan for water and sanitation.

The minister was speaking when he inaugurated a solar-powered mechanised borehole for the people of Kpataribogu in the Karaga District in the Northern Region.

It was provided by World Vision Ghana, under Phase IV of its Ghana Rural Water Project (GRWP) which is being implemented with part funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and Danone-United Kingdom (UK).

The borehole, together with two 10,000-litre overhead tanks and other components, cost $60,000.

Over 2,000 boreholes and wells have been constructed by World Vision for several communities in Ghana since it started the implementation of the GRWP in 1985, following the severe drought that hit the country in 1982.

Mr Abongo said the government was very much aware of the urgent need to meet the MDGs, particularly in relation to water and sanitation.

He, therefore, pleaded with donor partners to support the government either with funds to provide infrastructure or the direct provision of water and sanitation infrastructure for communities in the country.

The National Director of World Vision Ghana, Mr Basilio Okello, restated the commitment of his organisation to transform the socio-economic lives of people through the provision of potable water, sanitary facilities and intensive health and hygiene education.

He said the organisation would also remain a trusted partner of the government, the communities and other development organisations.