GOVT TO SPEND $12M ON FOUR WATER PROJECTS IN WR (SPREAD, OCT 18, 2010)

THE government has secured more than US$ 12 million from the International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank, for the rehabilitation and improvement of five water systems in the Western Region.
The execution of the project is expected to improve the water supply in the region because of the envisaged growth and economic expansion that might result from the commercial production of oil and gas in the region.
The five beneficiary communities are Axim, Aboso, Elubo, Bogoso and Prestea.
The rehabilitation of the water system at Axim is expected to cost US$ 2,547,690.00 and that of Aboso will cost US$ 2,465,236.00 while the work at the Bogoso will cost US$ 2,229,120.00.
In the case of Elubo, the project will cost US$ 1,732,107.00 and that of Prestea will be rehabilitated at the cost of US$ 2,965,971.00.
The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Alban S.K. Bagbin, who announced this in Sekondi last Saturday, said contract negotiations for the projects were far advanced for the project to begin next year.
Apart from the short-term measure, he said the government was undertaking extensive studies to assess the water resources potential of the region.
Mr Bagbin said studies currently underway included the assessment of the Ankobra and Tano rivers and the assessment of underground water potential in the region.
That, he explained, was in recognition of the industrial and commercial potential of the Western Region, which had long been established and enhanced by the recent discovery of oil and gas.
Addressing members of the Western Regional Security Council, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) and heads of departments on the water situation, Mr Bagbin said the water supply system at Inchaban in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis appeared to have reached its abstraction limit and that River Pra would serve as another source to complement the Inchaban system.
Under the long-term investment plan for 2025, he said the major works to be undertaken were the Sekondi/Takoradi Water Supply System and the Essiama Enclave.
“It is worthy to recall that the President of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, in his recent visit to China, secured support from the Government of China for the Sekondi/Takoradi Water Supply System”, he said.
“In all these efforts, government expects from the staff of the Ghana Water Company Limited absolute dedication in delivering services to the people”, he added.
Touching on Rural and Small Towns Water Supply, he said the percentage of people in the region with access to potable water was 63 per cent in the urban areas and 44.2 per cent in the rural areas.
However, he said the recently completed 20 Small Towns Project funded by the European Union (EU) and facilitated through the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), as well as other currently ongoing projects were expected to increase the water coverage to 56.7 per cent in the rural areas at the end of 2010.
Mr Bagbin said despite those improvements in water coverage, a disturbing issue that had engaged the attention of the ministry had to do with proper management of the systems in the small towns and rural areas, which unfortunately become non-functional after a few years of operation.
The situation, he said, was not acceptable, and urged the district assemblies to exercise their due oversight control to ensure that the facilities were operational at all times, or with minimal downtime.