Government has secured an amount of €31million, under the Aquah Africa water project, to provide some rural communities with potable water. The project involves the construction of 150-point sources and 12 small town water systems. About 588 rural communities and small towns in five regions will benefit from the project. The beneficiary regions are Volta, Oti, Ashanti, Eastern and Greater Accra.
A Daily Statesman source disclosed that eight communities in the Eastern Region will benefit from the project. They are Tease in the Kwahu Afram Plains South district, Coaltar in Ayensuano, New Ajena in Asuogyaman and Anyinam Kotoku in Birim South. Others are Akenkausu in Achiase, Akyem Manso No. 1 in Asene-Manso-Akroso, Asafo in Abuakwa South and Oframase in Kwahu West.
Eight communities are also expected to benefit in the Ashanti region. They are Esereso in Bosomtwe District, Ntonso in Kwabre East, Kubease in Juaben, and Kunso in Ahafo Ano South West. The rest are Pokukrom in Ahafo Ano South East, Pakyi No. 2 in Amansie West, Bonwire in Ejisu and Ahwiankwanta in Bekwai.
In the Greater Accra Region, Aklaman, Abensu, Sansan, Kreamoman, Dome Sampaman and Deideiman, all in Ga West, will benefit.
In the Volta and Oti regions, seven communities are expected to benefit. They are Dambai in Krachi East, Banda and Chideri in Krachi Nchumuru, Brewaniase in Nkwanta South, Katanga in Krachi East and Kete Kraci in Krachi West.
Other beneficiaries
Other cluster communities are also expected to benefit from the project. For example, in the Eastern Region, Kraboa, Kraboakese, La Mangoase, Kwametakyi, Siabotare, Amfaso, Yawtakyikro, Okotokrom and Kwadwo Agyaregkrom will together have one project. Gyakiti, Adumasa, Anyaase and Oglobo will also have one.
The rest are Aitibie-Amanfrom, Mpraeso-Amamfrom, Kwahu-Nsaba, Nkawanda No. 1 and 2, Abentensu and Kwahu-Jejeti, all in Kwahu West District.
In the Ashanti Region, Feyiase, Aputuogya, Adagya, Abuontem, Sawua and Jachie will benefit from one. Asonomaso, Aboaso, Bampenase and Krobo Adesina will all also benefit as one. New Koforidua, Nobewam, Hwereso and Duampompo will benefit as one cluster.
Other clusters are Bonkwanso No.1, Kunso Dotiem, Dunyan Nkwanta, Barniekrom, Boatengkrom, Bonkwanso No.2. Pakyi No.1, just as Dominase will also be one cluster with Adanwomase and Bamang.
The rest are Ofoaso Kokoben, Adjemasu, Dominase and Huntaado, also as one.
In the Greater Accra Region, Three Junction, Obeyeyie, Ayikai Doblo and Okushibiade will be one cluster. Manchie, Sansan Odumase and Sansan Kenya will also be one. Others are Achiaman, Doblo Gonno, and Kwashiekuma. The rest are Mayera and Katapor.
In the Volta and Oti regions, Kparekpare, Kwame Akura, Yabrama, Tabayi, Pompei, Yanga and Tamanigya will benefit as one cluster. The rest are Gyengye, Abajoro, Brewiase, Bator and other small communities as one cluster with Asukawkaw also as a beneficiary.
Additional Financing
Meanwhile, as part of the Additional Financing-Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (AF-SRWSP), government is constructing 23 small town water systems in 11 regions.
The project was originally designed for six regions. However, the creation of new regions has increased the number of beneficiary regions to 11.
The US$45.7 million project is now for the benefit of the Northern, Upper East and West, Bono, Central, Western, North East, Savannah, Bono East, Ahafo and Western North regions.
Under the project, water supply systems are being constructed at Bronsanko, Asiri, Jankufa, Prang, and Dotobaa in the Bono, Bono East and the Ahafo regions.
Others are also being constructed at Walewale, Gambaga, Nalerigu, Gushiegu, Saboba and Chereponi towns within the Northern, North East and Savvannah regions.
Rehabilitation of the Lambusie, Hamile/Happa water systems in the Upper West region is ongoing.
In addition, 250 boreholes are being constructed in several places, including Daffiam–Bussie, Lawra, Sissala West, Nandom and Jirapa, with the water systems expected to serve a population of 7,848 in Lambusie and a total of 13,920 in Hamile and Happa.
Again, drilling of 30 boreholes for the development of seven water systems in fluoride-prone communities in Bongo, Upper East, is also ongoing.
Asempaneye and Oseikojokrom water systems, in the Western and Western North regions, are also being constructed.
In the Central Region, communities within the saline belt are being connected to Ghana Water Company limited pipelines. They include Essakyir, Mando, Abaasa, Obonster, Essiam, Gomoa Enyiresi, Anomasa, Ayelda, Bontrase, Papase and Agona Nkum.
A total of 84 communities are expected to benefit from the project.
Execution and payment
A report on the projects indicates that, as of October 2019, the average execution works in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions was above 90 per cent while the unpaid contract amount balance was about 22 per cent.
In the Central Region, except one contract with less than 60 per cent completion, the remaining 12 contracts were in the range of 63 per cent and 98 per cent.
In the Northern Region, the highest accomplishment of 85 per cent has been recorded, but more than half of the projects were yet to be utilised.
In the Upper West region, more than 80 per cent of the rehabilitation works in Lambusie and Hamile/Happa system was completed, while the progress in the drilling of 250 boreholes in all the six districts were on critical path with 196 boreholes drilled and pump tested.
About US$4.6 million (40 per cent) of the contract amount was yet to be utilized while 30 boreholes for design of seven water systems were at 71 per cent completion.
In the Western Region, 80.50 per cent of the outstanding works on Asempaneye and Oseikojokrom systems was completed, while 67 per cent of the contract amount was invoiced.
