Minster cuts sod for Tamale water expansion project

Dalun, (N/R), Aug 18, GNA - Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Friday cut the sod for commencement of the multi-billion cedi Tamale water expansion project. The project is estimated at 45 million euros with the Dutch government providing a grant of 22.5 million euros representing 50 per cent of the cost while the remaining 22.5 million euros would be borne by the Ghana government through a credit facility.

Biwater B. V, a Dutch company is executing the project on a "turnkey" basis with the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) as the employer.

Upon completion, the project would provide 9.3 million gallons of water a day to serve a population of 500,000 people within the Tamale Metropolis.

The project includes the duplication of transmission of main pipelines, rehabilitation and refurbishment works at the existing treatment plant and the construction of a new plant. Mr. Owusu-Agyemang said the project would improve easy accessibility and reliability of improved water supply and also improve on the general health of the people.

Mr. Owusu-Ageymang said the project would create about 250 jobs for the local community and appealed to the contractors to employ some of the workers from the area.

The Minster said the government, in its bid to seek funding for the improvement of water facilities in the country, did not mean to privatise GWCL but to provide technical support to enhance water delivery.

He expressed the hope that the provision of potable water to the Tamale Metropolis and its environs would help reduce guinea worm and other water-borne diseases.

Mr. Samuel Odartey Lamptey, Managing Director of GWCL, said the company had initiated measures to sustain water supply in Tamale until the project was completed.

In line with this, he said, there had been a general replacement of pumps and other electro-mechanical equipment at Dalun and Nawuni head-works at a cost of 350,000 dollars.

In addition, existing pipelines in many areas in Tamale had been rehabilitated under the urban water project, and extended to Vittin, Airforce Station, Business Secondary School, Ghana Secondary School, Lamashegu, Adubiliyili and Tugu-Yapale.

Mr Odartey-Lamptey expressed concern that when the project was completed it was likely to throw many young girls and women engaged in water ferrying out of business and appealed to social partners in the water sector to think of alternative means of employment for them.

Mr Arie Vander Viel, Netherlands Ambassador in Ghana, said the execution of the project would improve the efficiency and cost recovery of the GWCL.

He pledged the support of the Dutch government to the government of Ghana in its efforts to improve the standard of life of the people, especially those in the deprived regions.

Alhaji Mustapha Ali Iddris, the Northern Regional Minister, expressed the hope that with the implementation of the project, the perennial water problem facing the people of the metropolis and its environs would be a thing of the past.

He appealed to the implementers of the project to ensure that communities living along the water source also benefited from it. 18 Aug. 06