is not out of place - Minister

Accra, July 14, GNA - Government would continue to commit greater resources to urban water delivery, so long as poverty was more pervasive in some urban centres than in rural areas, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Works and Housing, said on Thursday.

He said: "Poverty in the urban areas is becoming more pervasive and threatening than in the rural areas and as a result, Government's concentration and emphasis on urban water is not misplaced." The Minister said this when the Netherlands's Ambassador to Ghana called on him at the Ministry soon after the signing of an agreement for three major projects with the Ghana Government.

The agreement makes available 78.5 million euros to finance three projects - the rehabilitation of the Cape Coast Water Supply Systems; Multi-Donor Budgetary Support and construction of dental clinics at various hospitals.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman said the Government was very much committed to removing the inefficiencies in the water delivery system, which had made the urban poor to pay for water 10 times the price being charged by the Ghana Water Company.

He commended the Dutch Government and said over the years it had demonstrated lots of magnanimity and commitment in her support to Ghana's water delivery.

He said the Government would ensure that the resources were well utilised in a transparent manner.

The Dutch Ambassador, Mr Ariel C. A. van der Wiel said with the signing of the agreement, the projects, especially the Cape Coast Water Supply System rehabilitation must start in earnest. He said the Dutch government was also very committed to seeing to the completion of the project to ensure a sustainable water supply.