Sekondi, July 7, GNA - The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding in Sekondi with nine district assemblies in Western Region for the transfer of small water supply systems to communities.

The districts are Sefwi Wiawso, Juabeso-Bia Mpohor Wassa East, Wassa West, Nzema East, Wassa Amenfi, Jomori, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai and Aowin-Suaman.

Mr Charles Adjei, Managing Director of GWCL and the District Chief Executives signed the memorandum.

Mrs Esther Lily Nkansah, Regional Minister, said communities would be assisted to form water and sanitation development boards to manage and operate the systems.

They would however set tariffs with the approval of assemblies. She expressed the hope that the boards would work out strategies taking local conditions into consideration to mobilise resources to operate the systems with the support of assemblies.

Mr Franklin Aheto, MP for Ashiaman and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Works and Housing, commended the government's decentralisation programme for making it possible for communities to take over the management of the systems.

He urged the assemblies to initiate plans for the effective collection of water rates to enable the government to provide other areas with potable water.

Mr Adjei said the water supply sector is undergoing restructuring to involve the private sector in urban water supply and community ownership and management in small towns and rural communities.