Accra, April 29, GNA - Coca Cola Company, the global beverage giant, on Tuesday announced a 500,000-dollar support package under its Community Watersheds Partnership Programme to provide communities in the Tano Basin with access to potable water.

The programme, which would cover a three-year period, would be undertaken by the Company in conjunction with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Mr Neville Isdell, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, made this known when he paid a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu. He said it was their contribution towards helping to reduce the incidence of water borne diseases in that part of the country. The Coca Cola Chairman praised President Kufuor for Ghana's business-friendly environment and pledged the Company's determination to continue to increase the level its investment. "We will continue to invest in a country that is very much on the move."

Mr Isdell, who last visited Ghana in 1993, said he was amazed at the progress Ghana had made adding that, Coca Cola was proud to be part of "this growth".

President Kufuor said what the nation wanted was to see Ghanaians become part owners of the Company so as to share in its growth. To make this happen, he suggested to Coca Cola to consider floating shares on the Ghana Stock.

He described as commendable the potable water programme for the Tano Basin and said the Company, by this was showing human concern for the community.