Tamale water problems to end soon

Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - The perennial water problems in Tamale and its surrounding communities is to end following the signing of an agreement by Ghana Water Company Limited with Biwater BV, a UK water company on Wednesday in Accra.

The company begins the 45 million-euro expansionary, rehabilitation and optimisation project in the first quarter of 2006 to meet about 85 percent of the water demands, far above the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) target.

The Dutch government is funding 50 percent of the total cost in the form of grant on concessionary terms whilst the government of Ghana funds the rest 50 percent.

The project will take three years to complete. Initialing the agreement, Mr Samuel Gerald Odartey-Lamptey, Managing Director of GWCL expressed optimism that this time the project would be carried to fruition noting that the first contract in 1997 was abrogated because of financing problems.

He said, prior to the beginning of the project, the GWCL was going to temporarily install pumps within the next 10 weeks to ease the acute water problems in the areas.

Mr Odartey-Lamptey said the situation in Tamale as at now was not the best and that the GWCL would put in every effort and attention to ensure that the problem was brought to minimal level. Mr Mike Anderson, Biwater Company Board Director, and Martin Littlemore, Sales Director signed for their company. Mr Anderson assured the nation that Biwater would do everything possible to deliver the project on time.

The scope of work includes, installation of two new vertical shaft pumps, raw water transmission from Nawuni to Dalun, additional treatment facilities, construction of water storage compound at Kukuo Yelpasi, distribution network reinforcement and extension and technical assistance and training of staffs.