Fodzoku gets potable water
The Dutch government, working through Safe Water Network and other partners, has handed over a $100,000 water facility to the people of Fodzoku near Juapong in the Volta Region.
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This brings to an end more than 25 years’ dependence on untreated water for the over 5,000 people of the community who were resettled there to pave the way for the construction of the Kpong Dam.
The people have for the past 25 years lost several pupils through drowning in the Volta River whenever they went to fetch water.
Other collaborators of the project include the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Stone Family Foundation and the Newman’s Own Foundation which acted in partnership with the North Tongu District Assembly and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
More water systems
In an inaugural speech last Tuesday, the Country Director of Safe Water Network, Mr Charles Nimako, said 93 water supply systems had been built in selected communities throughout the country.
He added that 200 more systems would be provided by 2020.
He said water projects were designed to positively influence the health status of communities and that the enthusiasm demonstrated by the people should be translated into managing the facility very well in order to generate income to sustain the project for the benefit of generations to come.
The Executive Vice-President of Safe Water Network, Mr John Keys, said the capacity of the facility would be reviewed for expansion so as to satisfy the needs of the people.
He said the facility would be monitored on the basis of community engagement and management and reiterated the need to maintain the facility.
Partnership
The Volta Regional Manager of CWSA, Mr Divine Dugbartey, recalled that through partnership with Safe Water Network, it had become possible for some communities in the Biakoye and North Dayi districts to have access to potable water.
He said the collaboration had also made it possible to offer training to water management boards to ensure the sustainability of water supply systems and improve coverage in the rural sub-sector.
The Paramount Chief of Fodzoku Traditional Area, Togbe Afum Asare III, said the new water supply system had put an end to the challenges the community faced when it relied on water directly from the Volta River which was about two and half kilometres away from the community.
