Tetrem and Boamang receive Safe Water Stations

Tetrem (Ash), June 18, GNA - Two water stations to provide potable and reliable water supply for the people of Tetrem and Boamang in the Afigya-Kwabre District have been inaugurated.

The project, executed under the Public Private Partnership Initiative, was spearheaded by Safe Water Network, an (NGO), with support from, the government, Conrad N. Hilton, Osprey, Newman's Own and the Stone Foundations.

Speaking at separate handing over ceremonies, Mr. Charles Nimako, Country Director, of Safe Water Network, said the completion of the projects brought to 24, the number of water stations constructed by the organisation in about 50 communities in Ghana.

He said more than130, 000 people in these communities were benefiting from the assistance.

Mr Nimako said the maintenance of water systems was the greatest challenge of their operations with nearly 30 per cent of rural water systems being non-functional, thereby denying several millions of people access to reliable and safe drinking water.

He said his organisation was focused on solving this problem by raising tariffs of water from its stations to increase revenue to maintain their systems.

Mr. Sampson Ahi, the Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, in a statement read for him, said the Ministry, with Safe Water Network, were addressing a vital need in providing water and transforming lives of the people.

He said the Government had over the past five years invested more than one billion dollars on water supply projects across the country since water for all was its key priority.

Mr Ahi said new water systems had been completed and inaugurated at Anyinam, Kyebi, Osenase, Apedwa and Kwabeng, Asante-Mampong, Nsawam and Essakyir.

Mr. Kwaku Oppong-Kyekyeku Kaakyire, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said the District was already having a challenge of maintaining water systems.

He, therefore, called for attitudinal change on the part of the people to be careful in the way they handled the system to prolong their lifespan.

Mr Kaakyire said the Assembly would continue to work with Safe Water Network to ensure that water systems were sustained in the area.

Mr. Ernest Agudetse, a specialist with the Water Extension Services of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), appealed to the people to observe proper personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness.

GNA