Koforidua, March 1, GNA - The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has called on the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to revi= ew it water rationing process to ensure that Somanya, Odumase and the Akuape= m areas, which were very close to the Kpong Water Head works had water ever= y week.

He said the situation where Somanya and Odumase which were very clos= e to Kpong Water Head Works had no water for months was not acceptable. The Regional Minister said in spite of the challenges facing the company, if Kpong could serve water to other areas such as Accra and Tema= , then it should be able to give its immediate communities water. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said this when officials of GWCL presented a cheque= of GH 588.160.7 to the Regional Minister for landowners at Bukunor in the Up= per Manya District, for the payment of compensation for lands and crops that were affected during the construction of the Koforidua water project. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also called for extension of the water supply to th= e Asesewa areas, to ensure that the township and the 27 communities in the Yilo and Manya areas that the President promised to have them supplied wi= th water are captured in the plans of the company.

According to Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, Professor Mills on two occasions had promised the 27 communities in the Yilo and Manya areas potable water and=

therefore the commissioning of the project should reflect an effort in th= at direction. The Regional Minister said the payment of the compensation was a rel= ief to the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), since the demands for the compensation had become a difficult issue. Mr Kwaku Botwe, Managing Director of the Company, who presented the cheque informed the Eastern Regional Minister of plans for the commission= ing of the project by the middle of this year. According to Mr Botwe, apart from the compensation, the communities'=

request for public toilet facilities had been met, and water facilities a= lso had been extended to the adjoining communities.