Akufo-Addo fulfils campaign promise; inaugurates water project for Yapei
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated the Yapei Small Towns Water Supply System in the Central Gonja District in the Savannah Region, in fulfilment of a campaign promise he made to the people of Yapei in the run-up to the 2016 elections.
According to the President, the project, which was constructed at a cost of GH¢5.66 million, will serve about 18,149 people in the area.
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The water system, which is under the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), was funded by the World Bank as part of an Additional Financing-Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (AF-SRWSP).
Beneficiary communities are Fufukso, Nyangwuripe, Ntereso, Yipala and Yapei, all in the Central Gonja District.
A total of 28 standpipes have also been provided, and the project forms part of a sustainable rural water and sanitation project which started in 2017 with a $47.5-million credit facility from the World Bank.
Apart from the Savannah Region, the project has been implemented in 10 other regions, namely, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Central, Western, Western North, Northern, North East, Upper West and Upper East.
Its components include the construction of piped water supply systems, household latrines, health and hygiene education and environmental and social safeguards.
Protect water bodies
President Akufo-Addo said one of the measures to improve the longevity of the water system was for the people to collectively protect their water bodies by stopping activities such as galamsey, sand-winning and farming along river banks, all of which led to pollution.
The President also expressed hope that the water system would enhance Ghana’s collective effort to protect its citizens from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, saying: “With the availability of potable water in this area, investors will take advantage of the government’s flagship programmes, such as One-district, One-factory, to establish small and medium-scale factories to create employment opportunities for the youth of this community to stimulate the growth and development of the local economy.”
‘Water for All’
President Akufo-Addo gave an assurance that the government would not relent in its efforts to increase access to “Water For All”, a 2016 manifesto commitment of the NPP, which he said remained a key priority.
“We have secured funding for two other rural-based water supply projects, namely, the Rural Communities and Small Towns Water Supply Project (RCSTWSP), otherwise known as the Aqua Africa Water Project, which will benefit 150 communities in the Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Oti and Volta regions, and Phase III of a water supply scheme for the Central Tongu, Adaklu Anyigbe and Agotime-Ziope districts and the Ho municipality,” he added.
In response to an appeal by the Chief of Yapei, Yepeiwura Alhassan Soale III, for the construction of a senior high school and a fire station in the area, the President said he would ensure that those requests were fulfilled within the shortest possible time.
Project
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CWSA, Mr Worlanyo Kwadjo Siabi, said the project had been fitted with a solar system to reduce costs associated with pumping water, and that pipelines had also been laid to enable residents to connect water to their homes.
For his part, the Country Director of the World Bank, Mr Pierre Frank Laporte, said the multilateral development bank was happy to be associated with the water project for the provision of clean water for the people.
Appreciation
The Yepeiwura expressed appreciation to the President for fulfilling his promise.
He pledged to ensure the regular maintenance of the system for uninterrupted water supply.