Wa’s $51.5m water project commences
President John Dramani Mahama on Friday cut the sod for commencement of work on the $51.54 million Wa Urban Water project at Jambussi in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.
The project, to be financed from a loan facility from the Korean EXIM Bank, had already received parliamentary approval.
It is to increase water supply in Wa and its environs until 2025.
President Mahama, who is in the Upper West Region for a day’s official visit, has already addressed party supporters at the Wa Airstrip, inspected progress on the Wa Regional Hospital, and visited the Wa Naa’s Palace.
He would later in the day address a durbar of chiefs at the Wa Jubilee Park, and present laptop computers to students and management of the Wa Senior High School among other programmes.
Water production from the 18 bore-holes feeding the Wa Municipality now serves only 11.6 percent of the growing population and, therefore, the project would not only increase potable water supply, but would provide irrigation services that would enable farmers in the area to engage in dry-season farming.
The main components of the projects would include bore-hole rehabilitation and drilling, transmission pipe-lines, distribution pipelines, new elevated water tanks, electrical works and provision of health and education facilities.
President Mahama said the total eradication of guinea worm in the country was due to constant provision of potable water throughout the country.
He, however, appealed to beneficiaries to honour their side of the obligation by paying relevant rates and bills that would enable the utility companies to maintain their equipment and provide quality services.
President Mahama said the Savanah Accelerated Development Authority was currently reviewing its activities to revisit the tree planting exercise and gave the assurance that as soon as that was resolved, Government would pay all the arrears.
The President promised to construct a bridge at Gakye to facilitate trade between Ghanaians around Bole in the Northern Region and their counterparts in Ivory Coast.
He said Government was on rack to delivering its campaign promises, but called for peace and unity among the people to facilitate the execution of development projects.
Naa Sohiwnininye Danaa Gore II, Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area, expressed gratitude that the project, which had been on the drawing board for so many years, had been realised.
He appealed to Government to include an irrigation component that would engage the youth in dry-season farming rather than moving into the southern areas of the country for non-existent jobs.
Naa Gore commended Government for commencing work on the Wa-Dorimon road and appealed to the contractor to expedite action.
He also appealed for one of the Community Day Senior High Schools the President promised during the 2012 electioneering to be built in the Wa West District.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Member of Parliament for Wa West, appealed to the people to support the Government to deliver on its promises by ensuring peace and unity prevailed.
Source: GNA