Safe Water Network provides potable water to communities

By Bertha Badu-Agyei, GNA
Sekesua, March 26, GNA - Safe Water Network (SWN), a non-governmental organization in partnership with the government of the Netherlands has constructed two water stations to provide potable water for the people of Sekesua and Akateng in the Upper-Manya Krobo district.

The water stations that cost $11,000 each have an office to be manned by 10-member committee each from the beneficiary towns and other staff who would run the water system to ensure that the over 40,000 people residing in the two towns and its adjoining communities had potable water.

The water system would supply clean water to other satellite communities like Takrowase, Osonson, Bomase, Jaman and many others.

The water stations, apart from the usual sale of water at designated pumps at 10 pesewas per bucket, also have facilities for households to provide constant flow of water to improve sanitation and the health situation of the people.

At a ceremony to inaugurate the Sekesua water station and the water management committee, the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Mr Kofi Adda, indicated that government was bent on providing clean water to all communities across the length and breadth of the country as a tool to improve health outcomes.

He noted, that his ministry was a re-enforcement of the government's quest to improve water coverage as a right to all persons in Ghana in accordance with the international goal of water for all and commended the Netherlands and the SWN for complementing government's effort in that direction.

Mr Adda urged the community especially the women to take ownership of the facility because 'women and children suffer most in the absence of water, implore your husbands to pay every contribution and levy needed to sustain this facility for your own good' he added.

The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Ron Strikker, said Netherlands partnership with Ghana under a 'Holland in Ghana, growing together' programme had provided potable water system to over five million people in Ghana in the last 20 years.

He said the Cape-Coast and Elmina water supply systems and many others were some of the benefits of the Ghana/Netherlands partnership and assured that his country would continue to partner Ghana to realise its goal of providing every community with potable water in line with the international goals and rights.

The Chief of Sekesua, Nene Asafoatse Obotiapong, said for many years the town and its adjoining communities relied on a streams for their water needs and so the provision of the facility was a long dream realised.

He noted that despite the fact that the Koforidua water project had its intake from the Upper-Manya district, they did not have access to potable water and assured that he would ensure that the facility was well maintained for their benefit.

GNA