Parliament approves water project for six towns

An amount of $10m Loan agreement between the Government and the Kingdom of Spain for the financing of six water supply projects in the Eastern region was on Wednesday approved by Parliament.

Eugene Atta Agyepong, Chairman of the Finance Committee moved for the adoption of the Motion for the report of the Committee after which Members unanimously gave their approval and support for the loan facility.

He said in line with Government's policy of providing potable water for a vast majority living in both urban and rural areas, a financial agreement was concluded in 1998 between the Republic of Ghana and the Kingdom of Spain.

The agreement is aimed at improving the quality of water in the areas through rehabilitation and improving the current capacity of the supply systems of Akim Swedru, Anum Boso, Koforidua, Nkawkaw, Asamankese and Nsawam all in the Eastern Region.

Agyepong said the Ghana Water Company that is the implementation agency has contracted a loan of 9,982,149.00 dollars from a Spanish Consortium - Gastagua/Ibadesa to help them in the execution of the project. The project is expected to last for 24 months and has a tax and levies exemption component attached to it.

The scope of works include rehabilitation of existing boreholes, rehabilitation of existing elevated tanks, distribution pipelines, replacement of machines and equipment, installation of raw water pumps, rehabilitation of refurbishment of water treatment plants and rehabilitation of weir, creation of impoundment and construction of new water intake pumping station.

The objectives of the project is to provide potable water through the development and expansion of surface and ground water resources for those living in the areas and the Committee observed that these towns have been experiencing severe water crisis during the dry season.

Agyepong said the Committee also observed that the quality and quantity of water in these areas are below the expected levels and the loan would help correct and improve the water situation in the six towns.

He said the Committee was further informed that sicknesses and disease outbreaks associated with unclean water in these areas would be reduced considerably and the loan would go along way to improving the well being of the people in these six towns.

Kwabena Adusa Okerchiri, NPP- Nkawkaw said the approval of the loan would bring a sigh of relief to the people of the areas because of the perennial water problems that face the people.

Daniel Tekpertey, NDC-Yilo Krobo expressed concern about the way some projects are often implemented that at the long run fail to serve its purpose. He said communities in the Krobo areas should have also been considered to benefit from the project since they have sacrificed their lands for the construction of the Volta Lake and have no access to potable water.

Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, NDC- Fanteakwa said the Eastern Region has suffered from lack of potable water especially the regional capital, Koforidua while the main river Densu always dries up in the dry season and suggested forestation along the river Densu

He suggested the need for tapping ground water sources and other alternatives as a lasting solution to the water problems of the region, adding that contracting of loans should be approached holistically so that many communities can benefit.

Akwasi Osei-Adjei, NPP- Ejisu/Juaben expressed concern about the use of treated water for car washing instead of the use of raw water.

Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development said the project was a challenge to the Ghana Water Company to prove their capabilities and ensuring that the project was executed as planned.

He complained about the use of Weirs in water supply and suggested its replacement with construction of dams for retaining water through the year and suggested the harvesting of rainwater to help solve the water problems of the community's rehabilitation.

Steve Akorli, NDC- Ho East said it seemed the towns earmarked for the project belong to the heavy stalwarts of the New Patriotic Party and this drew a lot of interruptions from the Majority side to deny the accusation. He said the weir system was not suitable to the country because it easily loses water during the dry season and suggested that the engineers need to take a second look and look for system that can retain and preserve water.

J.H. Mensah, NPP- Sunyani East and Senior Minister said the project was an interim one and at the appropriate time a definite move would be made to tap water from the Volta River to serve many of the towns around the area.

Yaw Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing in summing up said there was the need to revise the attitude of people towards consumption of water since the issue of water supply has the potential of generating into a disaster. He said the project was to restore the capacity of the water systems and was an interim measure to help solve the perennial water problem facing the people and said there were long-term plans to find solutions to the water crisis of Koforidua and the Krobo areas.