Gudayiri (U/WR), Sept. 1, GNA- Adventists Development and Relief Services (ADRA) had provided a total of 74 potable water facilities consisting of 64 hand-dug wells and five boreholes at a cost of 1.5 billion cedis in the Upper West Region.

They have also constructed a total of 256 household public places of convenience throughout the region at a total cost of 1.3 billion cedis.

Mr Seth Abu-Bonsrah, National Programme Director of ADRA announced this at Gudayiri during the inauguration of one of the hand-dug wells by Ms Mary Carlin Yates, US Ambassador to Ghana.

He said 330 water and sanitation projects funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through ADRA-Ghana have been constructed in the region at a cost of 2.8 billion cedis since 1997.

Mr Bonsrah said apart from water and sanitation, ADRA through USAID had supported a total of 2,500 farmers in 41 communities in the Wa, Nadowli and Jirapa/Lambussie Districts of the Upper West Region to cultivate 2,620 acres of cashew.

Ms Yates, who commissioned one of the hand-dug wells called on farmers in the region who had benefited from training programmes to share their experiences with others.

She urged all women groups who have been assisted in the region to make judicious use of funds and other resources to become self-reliant.

"Take advantage and make good use of all interventions from government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to enable you to develop socially and financially," she said.