The provision of water, electricity, health service, and education facilities among others in the communities are to help improve the socio economic advancement of the people, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana Upper West Regional Minister said.

He said government would do everything possible to fulfill its commitment to the people and urged community members to have faith with the government to provide the needed development projects for them to work with to enhance their livelihoods.

Alhaji Sulemana was addressing members of the Kpongu Community near Wa during the handing over ceremony of a 1,203,225.90 Ghana Cedi Small Town Water System for the Kpongu Community.

He said the provision of water in the community was a priority of government to ensure that the people are healthy and productive.

The Regional Minister however expressed disappointment that open defecation and other poor environmental conditions at water facilities were still impacting negatively on the health of the people.

“Water coverage in the Region is 76 per cent but that of sanitation especially, open defecation is at the lowest point, and we must work harder to balance water provision with sanitation facilities,” he cautioned.

Alhaji Sulemana urged community members to provide household latrines and avoid the practice of open defecation and poor handling of water while some measures were put in place to keep all water sources clean and safe from environmental related diseases.

The Guli-Naa, Naa Seidu Braimah, who chaired the forum appealed to the women in the community to tolerate one another when they go to fetch water at the facility.

“Avoid fighting one another because such practices will defeat the objectives of the project,” he advised.