Regional News of Friday, 6 February 2004

Source: GNA

Extension of water supply to some communities BA would soon start

Accra, Feb, 6 GNA - A programme to extend water supply to six communities in the Brong Ahafo Region, estimated at 4.5 billion cedis would soon start this year.

The communities are Dormaa PWD, Koraso, Kofiasua, Wamfie, Asuotiano and Wamanafo.

The Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Alhaji Mustapha Idris disclosed this in Parliament on Friday in an answer to a question posed by Mr. Yaw Asiedu-Mensah NPP-Dormaa West on what steps the Ministry is taking to extend pipe-borne water to cover the rest of Dormaa-Ahenkro township and its suburbs.

Alhaji Idris stressed that rehabilitation works of the main extension to Kofiasua is estimated at 243,000 US dollars and was scheduled for 2005.

To another question as to when the rehabilitation of pipelines in the Krobo area would be completed to ensure regular supply of water, the Minister said the project involves the construction of transmission mains, new reservoirs, rehabilitation of old Kpong Treatment Plant and water distribution network.

He said the Ghana Water Company Limited recently rehabilitated the pipeline, including replacement of detachable joints, which were temporary measures and the eventual solution would be the entire pipeline replacement works and was being considered under the priority civil works programme with World Bank funding in late 2004 and 2005. To a question by Mr. Samuel Johnfiah NPP-Ahanta West to the status of the sea defence works at the fishing communities in the Ahanta West, the Minister announced that 500 million cedis and 800 million cedis have been made available from HIPC sources to begin coastal protection at Princess/Akatakyie and Dixcove.

Alhaji Idris said the Hydrological Services Department has identified Pricess/Akatakyie, Dixcove and Amanfulkuma as three locations in the Ahanta West where coastal erosion is posing a threat to the communities.

He explained that Amanfulkuma has been packaged for support from HIPC funds later this year.

He said the project is on-going and assured the member that if the monies allocated to the project were not enough the Ministry would seek funding from other sources to support the project.

Mr. Godfred Otchere NPP-Ayesuano sought from the Minister why Larteh with the largest population on the Akwapim Ridge and with acute water shortage problem has been excluded from the current water supply rehabilitation project though it receives water supply from the same source like other towns on the Akwapim Ridge.

The Minister said the first phase of the Akwapim Ridge Water Supply Project was limited to the replacement of the trunk mains (transmission pipelines) to Amanokrom and Peduase Lodge.

"This is the foundation on which further extension is to be tackled to areas such as Larteh, which is being taken care of under the second Spanish-Ghana Government Protocol slated for this year."