Project Maji, VRA Provide Water Facility For Korankyi

Project Maji, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Binatone, an electrical appliances company, has presented a solar-powered mechanized borehole water facility to the people of Korankyi, a village near the Akosombo dam.

The project is funded in partnership with the Volta River Authority (VRA) at a cost of GH¢50,000.00.

The village, which has a population of 250 inhabitants, does not have access to potable water for the past 57 years and depend mainly on water from the Akosombo Dam in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.

Project Maji has served rural communities that were in need of water since 2015 across the country and was expected to provide additional 25 solar-powered mechanized borehole water facility in some communities between September and October, this year.

The Project proprietary technology allows them to set up a fully- functioning, high capacity solar powered water facility that offers greater capacity and reliability and multiple dispensing taps to ensure the community does not have to form long queues while waiting for water, allowing children to fetch water efficiently and attend school on time.

Mr Michael Yaw Gyato, the Deputy Minister of Water Resources, presenting the facility, said the Project Maji provided reliable and sustainable water supply to the people.

He asked the District Chief Executive Officer (DCE) of Asuogyaman District Assembly to immediately work on the access road that leads to the village.

He said that constructing the road would improve the lives of the people, especially going to Mpakadan, the nearest town to do their businesses and other activities.

'We cannot neglect the people in this area for them to suffer,' he added.

He urged the people of Korankyi to use the water from the borehole and stop fetching water from the Akosombo Dam.

'This water that has been provided for you is the best and safe than the one in the dam. Please use it to avoid any infections,' he said.

Mr. Samuel Agyekum, the DCE of Asuogyaman District, said bilharzias has affected close to 300 communities in the district, adding, 'We will need a lot these projects in the district to prevent the spread of the disease.'

He said the partnership was the way to go in championing the development of the people and by so doing achieve goal six of the sustainable development goals, which ensures the sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Madam Sherry Habiba Seidu, the Deputy Director of General Services at the VRA, said the facility would provide potable water for the community and more importantly prevent the folks from using the water from the river (dam) as their main source of water.

'We believe as our mothers and children use the clean water, the incidence of bilharzia will drastically reduce,' she said.

The Deputy Director of General Services said good and clean water was essential for all forms of life and the VRA would do everything possible to ensure that communities such as Korankyi is not deprived of the essentials things in life.

'VRA will continue to fight the disease menace through our holistic interventions such as mass drug administration, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, provision of sanitation and water facilities and community sensitization,' she added.

Mr Venu Babu, the leader of Project Maji, said it was the plan of the organization to provide potable water to many deprived communities in the country.

He said for the past years they have supported many villages with this kind of project and it has been of benefit to all the communities they have visited.

'Our technologies are the best and of high standard,' he added.

He said the solar-powered mechanized borehole water facility was about 400-meter dip and the technology was monitored at a central point in Accra.

He said two people from the Korankyi village were selected to be trained to provide maintenance on the facility.

GNA