E/R launches phase two of water and sanitation sector

Koforidua, March 17, GNA - The second phase of the DANIDA Water and Sanitation Sector Programme Support (WSSPS) for the Eastern Region being implemented in collaboration with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) was launched in Koforidua on Wednesday.

The overall budget for the programme, which spans a period of five years and covers four regions, including the Eastern Region, is estimated at about 55 million dollars. The other three regions are Volta, Greater Accra and Central.

The Eastern Regional Director of the CWSA, Mr Philips Amanor, explained that the programme component was to contribute to poverty reduction through the provision of sustainable water supply and sanitation systems.

According to him, the programme which, is district-based with the CWSA acting as facilitators, would be implemented in 43 districts. Under the first phase which ended in December last year, 557 water point sources, 233 institutional latrines and 4,659 household latrines were provided in a total of 471 communities in the Eastern Region at a total cost of 68.2 billion cedis.

Mr Amanor said the regional coverage for rural water supply currently stood at about 50 percent, adding that as a result of assistance from DANIDA, it is envisaged that the coverage level will improve.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, observed that there could not be much improvement in the life of the people without any meaningful improvement in the quality of water supply and sanitation delivery.

Dr Osafo-Mensah expressed the hope that his outfit and the district assemblies would ensure the success of the programme in the region, and asked all District Chief Executives and other stakeholders to get involved.

Mr Kevin Gallagher, DANIDA Project Management Advisor, said most of the targets set under the first phase of the programme were achieved and asked the District Chief Executives to be committed and support the programme in their districts for its success.

Later, Dr Osafo-Mensah presented eight motor bikes and four computers with accessories valued at a total cost of 245.6 million cedis donated by the German Government to four districts in the region under the Regional Water and sanitation Programme.

The four districts were Suhum/Kraboa/Coalter, West Akim, Birim North and Birim South.

Under the second phase of the programme, the KFW, a German Cooperation Agency, is expected to drill 200 boreholes and 200 household latrines in the districts by the year 2005.