Water project inaugurated at Takroawasi

Takrowasi (E/R), Oct. 14, GNA - Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama yesterday commissioned a Small Town water supply project at Takrowasi, near Kade in the Kwaebibirem district estimated at 2.8 billion cedis. He said under the Eastern and Volta Regions small town Project (EVORAP), 25 small towns in the two regions would be provided with potable water systems.

The Vice president explained that the project in the two regions funded by the German and Ghana Governments.

He said the German government provided 12.6 million Euros, which was equivalent of 139.7 billion cedis for the project.

The Vice President noted that this was a clear demonstration of the cordial and friendly relations that existed between Germany and Ghana, "which from all indications is growing from strength to strength".

Alhaji Mahama expressed the appreciation of the government and people of Ghana to the German Government for the gesture.

The Vice President said in view of the importance of good drinking water to rural communities, he appealed to the German Government to consider providing additional support for the communities that had been mobilized but could not benefit from the project because of limited funding.

"By so doing, I believe the objective of the project would be achieved", he said.

Alhaji Mahama said in line with the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, Government was doing everything to ensure that rural communities had access to potable water.

The Government had committed about 40.8 billion cedis for the provision of water facilities to guinea worm endemic communities. Funds had also been provided through the District Assemblies to pay the five per cent contribution towards the capital cost of water supply facilities in some communities.

The Vice president said since the provision of potable water continued to be one of the critical infrastructure services within the priority activities of the government every effort would be made using both local and external resources to meet the target set for rural water supply coverage under the Millennium Development goals.

He stressed the need to ensure that the facility and others projects were properly maintained.

At Adeiso, in the West Akim District, Vice President Mahama inaugurated a six-classroom block for the SDA Primary School at the cost of 490 million cedis and a 16-seater aqua privy facility at 143 million cedis funded from the HIPC funds.

The assembly member for the Zongo community, Alhaji Nurudeen Alhassan, appealed for the establishment of an educational fund and a vocational training centre to train the youth.

A Spokesman for the Zongo communities at Nsawam, Adeiso and Asamankese commended President Kufuor for selecting Alhaji Mahama as his running for the 2004 Elections in December.