Southern Sudan is faced with numerous challenges in water supply. Although the White Nile runs through the country, potable water is scarce during the dry season in areas that are not located along the river.
This was revealed at a forum held in Accra on water management and sustainability. Participants in the one-day forum observed that about half that country’s population did not have access to an improved water source such as protected wells, standpipes or hand pumps.
The forum, which drew stakeholders from the water and sanitation sector, was organised by Intermerc Ghana Limited, a water engineering company, in collaboration with the South Sudan Mission in Ghana.
Speaking at the forum, a Senior Project Engineer of the company, Mr Michael Kwesi Amuakwa, disclosed that they were engaged in formal discussions with South Sudanese authorities to map out strategies to ensure proper management of that country’s water sector.
“Our expertise in water goes back to the 1980s as one of the leading companies in Ghana to specialise in water engineering. From those humble beginnings, we have grown to carrying out some of the world’s most complex projects, such as the one we seek to do in South Sudan,” he said.
Mr Amuakwa said the company would supervise and manage the treatment of water in South Sudan to ensure that residents had access to good drinking water.
“It is going to be a win-win situation for both parties in that we are going to ensure the treatment of their water and provide them with innovative solutions and in return get business for ourselves,” he added.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the South Sudan Embassy, Ghana, Juma Dino Amoi, told journalists that the country was faced with severe challenges in the provision of social amenities to its citizens, particularly potable water.
“We have water but our water needs to be treated to improve the health of our people and we are convinced that a company like Intermerc has the ability to contribute significantly towards the improvement of our water sector,” he stated.
Highlighting the competences of the company, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Intermerc, Mr Eric Johnson, said: “We provide advice and deliver engineering solutions from planning, feasibility, design and procurement to construction supervision to optimise water and networks.
He gave the assurance that his team was well equipped for the South Sudan project, which he said, would end up correcting all anomalies impeding the supply of potable water to consumers.