Pay for utilities – President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday commissioned a $273 million water project with a call on Ghanaians to pay for utilities to enable the companies to serve them better.

He said government was no longer guaranteeing external loans for the operations of the utility companies and it was only through bills and taxes that could keep them in business.

President Mahama was commissioning the expanded Kpong Water Project which would now produce 20 million gallons of water for existing and new consumers in Adjirigano, Adentan, Dodowa, Ashongman, Oyibi, and Ayi Mensah among other communities.

The expanded project, which would now provide additional 186, 000 gallons per day, was funded by the Chinese Export and Import Bank in collaboration with the Government of Ghana.

President Mahama said much as it was incumbent on government to provide basic amenities for its citizens, the citizens also had the reciprocal responsibility to honour their tax and other financial obligations to allow the system to work.

He said water was a basic need, and his administration would, therefore, continue to provide it everywhere in the country, adding that government would ensure that all Ghanaians received potable water by 2025.

Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, commended President Mahama for investing in the water sector, adding that it was the only administration that provided almost 70 million gallons of water throughout the country.

He gave the assurance that more would be harnessed for communities yet to receive their share of the national cake.

Alhaji Dauda said the other 20 million gallons component would be ready to serve more Ghanaians early next year, “especially communities that have not received water for the past 15 years will now receive it in their houses.”

Source: GNA