Government has prioritized rural water and sanitation – Kale
Mr. Caesar Kale, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, has said, government has placed premium on the provision of affordable potable water and was of the conviction that poverty should not be a barrier for any Ghanaian to access clean water.
In line with that, the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project had been launched recently in Tamale to actualize government’s vision of providing the all important resource to the people.
Mr. Kale was addressing members of the Tuma community in the Lawra District and Tanina Community in the Wa East District at separate meetings to commission 20 boreholes provided them by Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) at the weekend.
The Concern Universal Ghana, a non-governmental organisation sourced for funding from MTN for ProNet North, also an non-governmental organisation, to implement the project.
Mr. Kale advised the people not to waste water but try as much as possible to conserve it.
They should also avoid contaminating water bodies but plant trees around them to help mitigate the effects of climate change on them.
Mr. Kale commended the institutional collaboration amongst MTN, Concern Universal Ghana and ProNet North in bringing to fruition the project, aimed at providing sustainable water for the communities as well as inch Ghana towards the millennium development target of halving the population without safe drinking water by 2015.
He said the project would also help free some resources from the two district assemblies to invest in other areas that would benefit the people.
He appealed to members of the communities to take good care of the facilities by maintaining them constantly.
Mr. Kale therefore urged Water Board of the communities to ensure the proper maintenance of the boreholes with money accruing from water rates.
Naa Puowelle Karbo, Paramount Chief of the Lawra, who graced the forum, said the provision of the water fell within his vision of looking for partners to help improve the socio-economic advancement of the people.
He said the provision of the water facilities would help promote the health of the people and enhance productivity.
He expressed his gratitude to MTN, Concern Universal Ghana and ProNet North for the project in the district, where many communities were still water poor.
Source: GNA