President Akufo-Addo commissions €37.6 million Upper East Region water supply project

As part of his visit to the Upper East Region on Friday, August 5, 2022, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo officially opened the €37.6 million Upper East Region Water Supply Project.

“The Upper East Region Water Supply System will provide the people of Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Paga and its environs with twenty thousand, five hundred (20,500) cubic meters of water per day, which is equivalent to approximately four and half million gallons (4.5 million) of water per day, a three-fold increase from the 1.5 million gallons per day originally available to the Region, according to President Akufo-Addo.

Recall that in January 2018, the government, acting through the Ministry of Finance (MoF), obtained funding totaling €37,683,266 for the Upper East Region Water Supply Project. This funding came in the form of a €12,341,308 grant from the Dutch government and a €25 million facility from the Dutch-based ING Bank.

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources then structured the project into two phases with the contractor, DENYS NV, with the intention of extending the design horizon from 2030 to 2040 in order to adequately account for future demand in accordance with our policy to build water projects taking into account future population growth.

“Apart from Bolgatanga, Navrongo and Paga, communities such as Zuarungu, Zarre, Sumbrungu, Kalbeo, Gambibigo, Winkogo, Bongo, Yorogo, Pungu and Akomkongu are also set to benefit from the project. Three hundred and forty-seven thousand, four hundred and forty-six people, in total, will be served with safe, potable water,” Nana Addo stated.

He informed the crowd that the execution and completion of the Upper East Water Supply Project are consistent with the government’s plan to meet the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, which is outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6.

The government’s commitment to fostering an environment that will draw enterprises to communities through the development of social infrastructure was reaffirmed by President Akufo-Addo.

“Accordingly, I expect that, with the availability of potable water in this area, investors will take advantage of Government’s Flagship Programmes, such as “One- District, One-Factory”, to establish small and medium scale enterprises to create employment for young people, so as to stimulate the growth and development of the domestic economy,” he added.

He told the gathering that Government is working diligently to provide funds to improve the water supply situation in other parts of the country, with the objective of ensuring equity and an improved quality of life to all communities in the country.

“It is, thus, worthy to mention that works have commenced on the Keta Water Supply Expansion Project in the Volta Region, the Wenchi Water Supply Project in the Bono Region, and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project in the Ashanti Region. Works will commence, by the end of the year, on the Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Expansion Project in the Western Region, the Tamale and Yendi Water Supply Projects, both in the Northern Region, and Damongo Water Supply Project in the Savannah Region,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo also revealed that processes have started to develop Phase Two of the Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project, which will augment the supply of water to the people of Greater Accra.

“The Fanteakwa-Begoro Water Supply Project in the Eastern Region, the Tarkwa Water Supply Project in the Western Region, the Techiman Water Supply Project in the Bono East Region, the Assin Fosu Water Supply Project in the Central Region, the Western North Region Water Supply Project, the Hohoe Water Supply Project in the Volta Region, and the Kumasi Water Supply Project in the Ashanti Region are all in the pipeline, to help respond to the growing demand for water,” the President said.

“So we can continue to have access to potable water and, through that, ensure the general well-being and health of all the individual communities,” he urged residents of the Upper East Region’s beneficiary areas.

President Akufo-Addo commended the Dutch government for providing significant finance for the project through its ORIO funding and recognized the important role this project will play in the delivery of urban water supplies to the residents of the Upper East Region.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com