Guinea worm endemic villages benefit from water project

Xavi, Sept 27, GNA - Seven Guinea worm endemic village in the Akatsi District are to benefit from a 600 million-cedi community initiated water project.

The District Assembly and the Danish Development Agency, DANIDA, would provide financial support with technical assistance from the Volta Region Community Water and Sanitation Agency (VRCWSA).

The project involves the building of an overhead reservoir near a borehole sunk in 1992 to distribute water to the communities, Xavi, Dzuepe, Tsigbene, Afeyime, Akeve-Gui and Beyime.

Mr Kwesi-Yeboa, Regional Minister, speaking at a ceremony to mark the beginning of the project said it was part of government's efforts to raise living standards in rural areas through the provision of water, electricity, schools and hospitals.

He explained that the government alone could not solve the problems facing the country, adding that, this is the reason why it has entered into partnership with bilateral and multilateral institutions and communities to speed up development.

The Regional Minister said Xavi would be provided with the basic infrastructure to support the bird sanctuary to attract tourists.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa asked the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to provide estimates for connecting the communities to the national grid since the people had already erected poles for the purpose.

Mr Nicholas Negble, District Chief Executive (DCE), commended the communities for the peaceful atmosphere in the area and said it was being considered for an irrigation project.

He said the District Assembly would renovate the Xavi Primary School block.

Mr George Agbavor, on behalf of the communities said 42 million cedis had been realised to support the project, which would bring a big relief since the only source of water was two kilometres. He called for the provision of other facilities such as a health centre for the area.