Ho, Nov 2, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Forster Boateng, inducted on Saturday as Rotary Club Ho Chapter President for 2010/2011, has pledged scaling up Rotary programmes to increase rural water and sanitation access in the Volta Region.
He put rural water and sanitation coverage in the region at 62.63 percent and 16 percent respectively. Mr Boateng, who is the Volta Regional Director of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), said it was regrettable that many people in the region still have to drink unsightly water. The induction was at the Rotary Ho Chapter 2010 Fund Raising Ball under the theme "Building Countries Bridging Continents". Mr Boateng said already under Rotary International and USAID collaboration some water and sanitation facilities were being constructed in the Volta Region and also in the Eastern and Central regions.
He said three communities in the Volta Region, Abutia-Teti, Takla-Gbogame and Nyive have mechanized boreholes and five other communities have institutional latrines under the scheme. Mr Boateng said Rotary Ho Chapter was also putting up a centre for the physically challenged. He expressed worry about the low numbers of indigenes in the Ho Club, saying contributions eventually come back to their own people in the form of vital projects.
Mr Boateng together with Rotarian Nii Akwei Addo, whose cumulative contribution to the Club had reached 10,000 US dollars were decorated. Mr Abuga Pele Country Coordinator of the National Youth Employment Scheme (NYEP) who was Guest of Honour said youth unemployment was a looming social problem that must not be politicized.