Lambussie, Feb. 28, GNA - Basic school children at Lambussie in Lambussie-Karni District, who used to spend several hours in search of drinking water from unsafe sources, have now been provided with potable water. The water was provided through the intervention of the German Embass= y and the International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable Development (ICED), which provided a mechanized borehole for the children at a total cost of a 27,188 Ghana Cedi. Dr Marius Haas, German Ambassador to Ghana, who inaugurated the project, said the embassy had limited funds to support community based projects.

He, however, said the provision of clean drinking water, good hygien= e and sanitation were essential for the survival of children hence the assistance. Dr Haas pledged the embassy's commitment to continue working with IC= ED to help provide essential basic needs such as water to people in the communities. He also commended the community members for providing GH¢2,200 tow= ards the implementation of the project and urged them to maintain the borehole=

for the sustainable use of the children.

Mr Clement B. Benin, District Chief Executive of Lambussie-Karni sai= d the district was created two years ago and as a result, had many developm= ent challenges.

He said the district assembly had been focusing on the provision of education, health and agricultural facilities, which he identified as the=

driving force of the district's economy and called for support in those areas. He said efforts were being made to rehabilitate existing structures in the district and also connect electricity and water to accessible schools= to enhance teaching and learning.

Mr Benin announced that the district assembly was preparing its three-year medium term development plan, which would embody all sector programmes to avoid duplications and waste.

He appealed to Non Governmental Organisations and donor countries to=

complement government's efforts in the provision of irrigation facilities= to help improve the livelihoods of the people. Dr Emmanuel Kwesi Boon, Chairman of ICED called on teachers and pupi= ls of the schools to manage the facility in an efficient and sustainable manner. He appealed to the German Embassy to continue to support ICED to realize its development goals in the northern sector. Earlier, Mr Benin conducted Dr Haas round the gardens of the physica= lly challenged persons at Karni, the Piina Dam and the Piina Senior High Scho= ol and appealed to the German Embassy to invest in those facilities as well.