Oterkporlu, (ER) March 20 GNA - Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Friday, inspected the Koforidua Water supply expansion project at Oterkporlu. Work on the project, which is in three phases, started in May 2007 and has a production capacity of 4.7 million gallons per day with a target population of about 227,000.

Mr Bagbin announced that the government was working hard to get a lot of investment into the water system, adding that, very soon water problem would be a thing of the past.

He urged the management of the project to ensure that 28 other settler communities within the catchment's area of the project were supplied with potable water.

Mr Bagbin also urged that social amenities such as sanitary facilities be provided to the communities to make life meaningful to them.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, said farmers whose farms were affected during the construction of the project had been paid their compensation.

He said plans were far advanced to hook communities along the project site to the national electricity grid. Mr Allan Okomeng-Mensah, Project Manager, earlier told the Minister and his entourage that phase one of the project, which includes the construction of intake structure of water treatment plant had been completed.

Phase two, which consists of laying pipe from the water treatment plant to the Koforidua Municipality was 99 percent complete. Mr Okomeng-Mensah said phase three, which consists of laying pipe to Tafo and adjourning towns such as Oyoko, Jumapo, Suhyen, Maase, Anyinasin and Osiem were in progress. He announced that 50 stand pipes had been constructed for towns along the route of the pipelines from the water treatment plant to Koforidua.

The Koforidua water system aims to increase the production of potable water, increase service coverage and improve the water distribution network in the Township and its environs.