President Mahama: Africa needs more potable water

President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday called on African leaders to be innovative in providing the water needs of their citizenry as a critical commodity.

He said, "Africa is the most rapidly growing urban continent and, therefore, the need for water for consumption, industry and business is also growing on a daily basis."

President Mahama made the call when he inaugurated the Dikgatlhong dam in Northern Botswana, as the Guest Speaker, which formed part of his three-day state visit to the Southern African country.

The Dikgatlhong dam, which is the largest in the country with a height of 40 metres and 4.6 kilometres in length, would produce 400 million cubic metres of water for a catchment area of 7,810 Kilometres.

In attendance was host President Khama Ian Khama, Ms Hannah Tetteh, Ghana's Foreign Minister, Nii Osah-Mills, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources among other dignitaries.

President Mahama said in the bid to provide adequate water for more Ghanaians, government was spending about $2 billion dollars for the construction of boreholes, small town water projects, among other water projects throughout the country.

The President commended the government of Botswana for the construction of the dam, which would provide potable water for the entire country and urged them to make judicious use of the project.

He commended President Khama for good leadership and for making their per capita income and transparency highest on the African continent.

President Mahama said his visit to Botswana was to reciprocate President Khama's visit to Ghana in 2011 and gave the assurance that the visit would leverage the relations between the two countries.

The President said the construction of the dam would help them to achieve their Millennium Development Goals in water and sanitation.

Mr Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, Botswanan Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources said his government was determined to provide more water for the people throughout the country.