Ghana, Togo to undertake water project

Accra, June 28, GNA - In the spirit of international co-operation, Ghana Water Company (GWC) and Togo Water Company (Societe Togolaise Des Eaux), are to construct and operate a water treatment plant and pipeline.

The scheme to be known as Sogakope-Lome Water Project, would ensure the transportation of treated water from River Volta at Sogakope in Ghana, to Lome in Togo.

Mr. Michael Agyeman, Chief Public Relations Manager of GWC, who disclosed these to GNA in Accra on Friday, said the project would not involve financial commitment on the part of GWC.

He said the scheme would promote international co-operation between Ghana and Togo and ensure efficient basin-wide management and use of water resources in the West African sub-region.

Mr. Agyeman said that plans to implement the project had over the years, enjoyed support of donor countries and institutions.

He cited that in 2002, the United States Trade Development Agency, released to the Government of Ghana 400,000 dollars for feasibility studies, while Lemna International, the consultants who undertook the studies, provided additional funding of 135,000 dollars towards the project.

Mr. Agyeman indicated that Lemna would be the lead investor, and would assemble a consortium of international investors and financial institutions to finance 100 per cent of the water supply project on a “Build Own Operate (BOO) basis.

He explained that a special company would be formed to own and operate the enterprise, with the assistance of GWC, adding that this company would sign a contract with the government of Togo for this service.

Mr. Agyeman said GWC would benefit enormously from the project and that apart from the financial gains to GWC, the special company would provide 15,000 cubic metres of drinking water daily to a total of 26 Ghanaian communities free of charge.

He said that the 10 largest beneficiary communities of the project would be Ehie, Avoeme, Sogakope, Agbakope, Anyako, Kiklor, Avoeme, Agborzume, Akatsi-Abor and Aflao, all lying along the proposed pipeline from Sogakope to Lome.

Mr. Agyeman said that the scheme was in line with international laws, agreements and protocols to which the two countries were signatories.

“As it is well known, Ghana is a riparian state that shares a number of basins with neighbouring countries. The Volta River basin, for example, is shared with Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Mali.”

Mr Agyeman said Ghana “is a signatory to a number of international laws, protocols, declarations and agreements that place obligations on the government in the management and use of water resources, particularly with other riparian countries.”

He cited the Volta Basin Declaration, outlining a set of principles for the peaceful management of conflicts related to the shared water resources of the Volta River in August 2002.

Mr Agyeman said others were the Resolution for the establishment of a Volta Basin Technical Committee in July 2004, a Communique on promoting dialogue towards the establishment of a Volta Basin Organisation in November 2004 and a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Volta Authority in December 2005.

He said in line with these protocols and agreements, the Government of Ghana had formulated the National Water Policy to encourage, among other things, the sharing of the benefits of water resources of shared basins and aquifers, by extending hydro power, potable water and water transport to the other co-riparian countries where feasible.

Mr Agyeman pointed out that the United Nations (UN) believed that nurturing the opportunities of trans-boundary water management could help build mutual respect, understanding and trust among nations and promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth.

He said the Sogakope-Lome Water Project must be considered within the framework of the international co-operation as advocated by the UN.

GNA