President commissions $126 million desalination water plant
President John Dramani Mahama on Friday announced that for the past five years, government had spent over one billion dollars in the execution of water projects in some parts of the country.
He said while some of the projects had been completed in Kpong, Kyebi and Mampong, among others, others in Wa in the Upper West Region, and Kumawu in the Ashanti Region, were under construction.
President Mahama said this when he inaugurated the first ever 126-million dollar desalination water plant project at Nungua in the Greater-Accra Region.
The project, executed by ABENGOA, a Spanish innovative technology company, would supply about 13 million gallons of water daily to about 500,000 residents in Teshie, Nungua and Tema, all in the Greater-Accra Region.
The desalinated water is being sold to Ghana Water Company Limited under a 25-year build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model for distribution to households and businesses.
The project is expected to create 400 direct and indirect jobs with revenue forecast of about 1,300 million dollars over the 25-year period.
President Mahama said provision of the water projects formed part of government’s transformation programme, as both residents and industries would benefit from the facility.
The President said there was a top class laboratory at the plant, and assured the people of quality water supply in the coming days.
He, however, cautioned beneficiaries of the plant to pay their bills promptly, to enable the Ghana Water Company to continue to supply them with potable water.
Dr Kweku Agyeman Mensah, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, said government would continue to provide safe and affordable water for the citizenry, but cautioned them to take good care of the facility.
He commended all past Ministers of the Ministry for playing roles in the construction of the desalination water plant.
Ms Maria Alonso, Spanish Ambassador in Ghana, said since 2011 Ghana had been the second Spanish trading partner in Africa, and gave the assurance that such relations would be strengthened in other sectors.
She said although Spanish companies were also operating in different sectors of the Ghanaian economy, there were more things the two countries could do, to enhance the growth and development of Ghanaians.
Nii Kpakpa Odeifio Welenchi Ithe Third, Paramount Chief of Nungua, commended government for providing water to the areas that hitherto had to rely on other scarce source of water in their communities.
He urged the beneficiaries not to politicize the project, but embrace it with all the necessary support that would prolong its life span.
Source: GNA