Koforidua, Sept. 23, GNA - Eleven District Assemblies in Eastern Region on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Eastern Regional Community Water and Sanitation Agency (ERCWSA) for the provision of potable water and sanitation facilities under a Phase Two Ghanaian-Danish Co-operation project.

The MOU is to serve as a guide in the implementation of a Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) 407.5 billion cedis grant for the project.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Eastern Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Mr Philip N. J. Amanor said the project, which would last for five years, would cover 43 districts in the Eastern, Volta, Central and Greater Accra regions. He explained that under the project, 350,000 people in rural areas of the affected regions were to be provided with water point sources and 180,000 people in small towns were to be provided with piped-born water supply.

Mr Amanor said the projects would also support the construction of latrines with hand-washing facilities in 950 schools and 75 clinics, installation of water for productive purposes, construction of rain harvesting facilities and support for District Assemblies for environmental sanitation.

He called for efforts to attract more funding into the Eastern Region from 2006 to support the provision of water and sanitation, since from that year DANIDA would be the only donor in the region supporting the provision of water and sanitation.

Mr Amanor said already, eight of the districts that had submitted their sub-projects, and had had their approval by the Regional Approval Committee (RAC), are to benefit from 75 boreholes, seven hand-dug wells, rehabilitation of two boreholes and five hand-dug wells. The District Assemblies involved would also benefit from 48 institutional latrines, feasibility studies for six pipe schemes and training schemes for women leaders, latrine artisans and pump caretakers.

The Project Management Advisor, Mr Kevin Gallagher observed that, among the challenges facing the project would be how to implement the project under the new Public Procurement Law. He appealed to the Regional Minister to get the three districts in the region, which were yet to submit their sub-projects, to do so soon.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, who chaired the signing ceremony, mentioned the districts that would be benefiting from the scheme as East Akim, New Juaben, Fanteakwa, Akuapem South, Akuapem North, Kwaebibirem, Fanteakwa, Asuogyaman, Afram Plains, Yilo-Krobo and Manya-Krobo.

He said the District Assemblies would also be signing agreements with communities, which would be benefiting from the projects. Sept. 23, 04