Zaare (U/E), March 6, GNA - Management of Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) has provided the Avutubisi community in Zaare near Bolgatanga with a mechanised water facility valued at about 43,400 Ghana cedis. It is part of the social responsibility of the company to reach out to pro-poor communities, which cannot afford the cost of urban water supply. The facility was partly funded by family from the Netherlands, known as the Tom Herdeman family who provided 15, 000 Euros towards the project, while AVRL provided the rest through Water for Life; a charitable wing of the company.

Inaugurating the project on Wednesday, Upper East Regional Minister , Mr. Mark Woyongo expressed joy about the series of measures from government and non-governmental organisations to supply portable water to the people. He said government was concerned about the water needs of the people especially those in the rural areas hence the drilling of about 200 boreholes across the region. The Managing Director of AVRL, Mr. Martins Nijsse said his outfit was glad to provide water to pro-poor communities that could readily afford the realistic cost of water.

Mr. George Yanore, Project Manager in charge of distribution at the Bolgatanga office said the pro-poor intervention initiative by AVRL was to ensure greater water accessibility and affordability and promote community involvement in sustainability of water projects. He said the project component included the extension of 100mm diameter distribution pipe network from the Regional Hospital to the communities that could afford to connect water to their homes. Mr. Dominic Akwibire who represented the community expressed gratitude to AVRL and the Herdeman family for the gesture and gave the assurance that the community would put the facility to good use. 6 March 10