SEVENTEEN DISTRICTS TO BENEFIT FROM SOLAR HAND PUMP BOREHOLES

Mr. Philip Amanor

Five hundred boreholes with solar hand pumps are being constructed in seventeen districts in the Central Region by community water and sanitation agency.

The Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency revealed this

Philip Amanor.

Mr. Philip Amanor, said that Central region has a rural water coverage of 56.77% and was optimistic that the 76% anticipated to be achieved in 2015 will be accomplished due to the supports from government and donor agencies in providing portable water to the residents of the region.

He said from 1991 to 2010 one thousand six hundred and eighty-four new boreholes have been constructed and one thousand and eighty household latrines have been provided.

He pointed out some ongoing projects that is going to be completed within a short possible time with this he said Central region is currently implementing of three major Donor Funded Projects in addition to government of Ghana projects.

Some of the Donor Funded Project include European Union and government of Ghana small town water and sanitation project from 2010, 2011, and to 2015, IDA sustainable rural water and sanitation projects (IDA-SRWSP) from 2009 to 2011, the local service delivery, and governance programme (LSDGP) from 2010 to 2011.

The small town water supply project at Assin Fosu, he said it is a jointly project by the government of Ghana and European Union and the government of Ghana component being Ghc3, 198.873. Mr. Philip Amanor said after completing this project it is going to serve 30,000 people in Assin Fosu and environment; he also said the expected date for completing is December, 2011.

He stated that  the IDA-sustainable rural water and sanitation projects was launched early this year to benefit 13 metropolitan or municipal, he also said it is a decentralization policy and it is districts based and it must be implemented within five (5) years period , and the cost of it is US$ 75million for 6 regions.

He said Upper Denkyira West, Upper Denkyira East ,Awutu Senya, Assin North ,Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, Efutu, Mfantseman ,Agona  East, Gomoa East are the areas being the beneficial of the sustainable rural water and sanitation projects.

Under the local service delivery and governance programme ,he said there has being construction of 87 water closets latrines in 7 districts and 76 is  completed and has been handed over.

Under the government of Ghana rural water supply project,he said ,government has constructed sixty five (65) boreholes fitted with solar powered hand pumps in 8 districts to serve 19,500 people ,and the beneficiary districts include:Upper Denkyira West ,Upper Denkyira East ,THLD,K.E.EA,Mfantseman,Agona East ,Agona West ,and Awutu Senya.

He said, government has putting in place training of system operators on community water and sanitation to monitor the effective way community water and sanitation at every district.

He also said low ground water potential in some areas and saline water problem in some areas especially along the coaster zones has become a major challenge in the community water and sanitation agencies in providing portable water.