Ghana Water Company signs $110m deal for water production to Teshie and environs
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and Befasa Agua of Spain, a water distribution company, have signed a 110 million-dollar deal to supply purified sea water to the inhabitants of Teshie, Nungua, La, Tema, Burma Camp and environs.
Under the project, Befasa would produce 60,000 litres (13.2 million gallons) of water daily to the beneficiary communities through the process of desalination.
Desalination is a process of removing dissolved salt content from water. Experts argue that it typically provides better water quality than traditional water treatment which cannot separate salts from water content well.
Mr Kweku Botwe, Acting Chief Director of GWCL, signed for the company while Mr Carlos Cosin, Chief Executive Officer of Befasa Agua signed for his outfit.
Speaking at the signing in Accra on Friday, Mr Goosie Tanoh, Legal Advisor and Consultant to Befasa said Teshie, Nungua and their environs were chosen due to the perennial water shortage facing the communities.
“After careful research, our partners, GWCL, chose these areas because they were at the very tail end of the water distribution network”, he explained.
He noted that Befasa would also invest 500,000 dollars into a dedicated bulk of electricity power supply line for the project.
“The distribution infrastructure is to be funded by Befasa, but will be the property of, and maintained by the Electricity Company of Ghana”, he said.
Mr Tanoh said Befasa would also finance the cost of a 1.5 kilometre pipeline to link up to the GWCL grid adding that the first trial of water under the project was expected in August 2012.
He cited Algeria, Spain, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Israel, Mexico, some countries in the Middle East and the State of California as some of the countries and States which employ desalination for water production.
Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, called for a critical look at water production in the country and the need for private partnership in water production.
Mr Botwe, expressed delight about the project and pledged the commitment of GWCL towards it.
“This is another opportunity for us to promote water resource and supply in our communities who are in need of it,” he added.
In a related development, UNESCO has signed a 1.5 million dollar deal with the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing for the rehabilitation of Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Tirso Dos-Santos, Country Director, UNESCO, bemoaned the high rate of human activities which had resulted in the near destruction of the Lake.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Spain for responding positively to the call to help preserve the Lake.
Mr Bagbin expressed appreciation to UNESCO for its assistance towards the rehabilitation of the Lake which served as a tourist attraction.
Source: GNA