Wednesday 15 April 2009

BOREHOLES FOR 13 UPPER EAST COMMUNITIES (D/G, Wednesday, April 15, 2009.PAGE 20)


THIRTEEN communities in six districts in the Upper East Region have been provided with wells fitted with hand pumps to solve the acute water problem facing the people.
The Watertown Rotary Club in the United States of America financed the estimated GH¢49,563 project with support from Rotary International.
Pastor Emmanuel Atia of the Victory Assemblies of God Church in the Bolgatanga Municipality initiated the project during a visit to the USA, which was facilitated by the Tamale Rotary Club.
The club, together with Pastor Atia, monitored the progress of the project.
The beneficiary communities were Nayriga-Donne in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Boya-Gumbo and Kamega in the Bawku West District, Missiga in the Bawku East District, Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District, Namoo and Kassingo in the Bongo District and Baare in the Talensi/Nabdam District.
The criteria for selecting the beneficiary communities included scarcity of potable water and co-operation from citizens of the communities.
The projects took three months to complete.
The Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, who inaugurated three of the wells at Nyariga-Doone, commended the donors for going to the aid of the people in the rural communities, stressing that the government alone could not shoulder the burden of developing the entire country.
While commending the donors for the gesture, Mr Woyongo entreated the beneficiary communities to treat the wells as their own property by monitoring their use and also through regular maintenance of the facilities.
Mr Woyongo stated that the region had already benefited from the International Development Association (IDA) Fund for the construction of 10 water systems under the small towns water supply and sanitation project, adding that 80 per cent of work on the project was completed.
He named the beneficiary communities as Bazua, Garu, Tongo, Fumbisi, Wiaga, Paga,Sirigu, Binaba, Kusanaba, Bongo and Sumbrungu.
Mr Woyongo hinted that the region was also to benefit from additional water system to be constructed at Denugu, Danorga, and Tempane-Yabrago, all in the Garu-Tempane District.
“Feasibility studies on these two water systems have been completed and contracts would soon be awarded,” he said.
The assembly member for Nyariga-Donne, Mr John Nyaaba and an opinion leader, Mr John Akaribo, on behalf of the community members, expressed his appreciation to the donors for the project.
He stressed that construction of the wells would go a long way to ameliorate the suffering of the people, who, in the past, had to walk long distance in search of water.
A representative of Rotary International, Pastor Walter Hughes, said his organisation was pleased to be associated with the project.
He also commended the Tamale Rotary Club for assisting the communities.

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