Nkoranza (B/A), May 26, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Foster Boateng, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWAS), has stressed the need for district assemblies to take proper ownership of water and sanitation systems in their communities.

The assemblies must also ensure the facilities were maintained to appreciable standards for a longer lifespan, Mr Boateng added.

These were contained in an address read on his behalf at the launch of the Nkoranza South District Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project at Nkoranza over the weekend.

The project, Mr Boateng said, was being jointly funded by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana, and urged the assemblies to educate the beneficiary communities to mobilize resources towards the maintenance of the facilities to help improve their health condition.

He announced that the Nkoranza South District would benefit from about 18 boreholes, mechanized water systems and integrated sanitation facilities allocated to the two sister districts.

Mr Boateng deplored the negative attitude of people in some of the communities who refused to give financial support towards the maintenance of such projects and advised such people to change that negative attitude for the better.

He disclosed that the project would offer capacity training workshops for stakeholders at the regional, municipal, district and community levels.

Eventually it would become the property of beneficiary communities and such capacity training workshops would help them to manage the facilities properly, he said.

Mr Boating explained that necessary measures had been put in place in terms of acquisition and documentation of lands for the various facilities in the area 93so as to guard against any future conflict and disputes among contractors and community leaders".

Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive, commended the World Bank and the other donor agencies for supporting the Government of Ghana in financing the project.

Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, Omanhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area, who presided, praised the Government for the projects saying it would bring great improvement into the living standards of the people.