Government gets funding for expansion of Barekese Dam

Accra, Feb. 3, GNA - Mr Alban Bagbin Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, on Wednesday said government had sought funding to increase th= e capacity of Barekese Dam from 24 million gallons per day (MDG) to 30 mgd. He said the proposal was currently with Cabinet for consideration and approval. He said the dam which was situated on the Offin River was the source o= f public water supply for Kumasi and its environs.

Mr Bagbin was speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday during questions time. He noted that the dam was expanded from a production capacity of 18 mg= d to 24 mgd in 2010.

He said under the programme the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) was to extend water supply to communities such as Aninkroma, Kumi, Kaporo, Pasoro, Sokwai Akwaboa and Mfensi, which were close to the Barekese Water Treatment Plant but without water. He said GWCL had made provision for the project in its 2011 budget. Asked what plans his ministry has to relocate people who built and settled along the banks of the Gbemi Stream in Ashaiman, the minister said it was the responsibility of the Municipal Assembly to act. The minister said construction works on the storm drains at Akade/Awurede at Larteh Akwapim in the Akwapim North District would resume this year under the Emergency Flood Relief Works. Answering a question on when the sewage problem in Tema Communities two, three, five and six would be resolved, Mr Bagbin said under the World Bank Sponsored Urban 11 Restructuring Programme, Sewage Management was cede= d to then Tema Municipal Assembly. He indicated that the ministry through the Tema Development Corporatio= n handed over this responsibility to the assembly adding that the transfer went with staff, equipment and machinery.

On the perennial drainage problem that beset the people of Kejabil Akwidaa Old Town and Hotopo during the raining seasons, Mr Bagbin said the ministry had asked the Hydrological Services Department to undertake engineering surveys and design for the implementation of an appropriate solution to the problem. He said the department was expected to present its report on the project by the end of April 2011.