Accra, Dec. 2, GNA - Japan has provided a grant of $104,212 to the Centre for Integrated Education and Development (CIED) to improve water supply systems in six communities in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.

Under the project pipe lines would be extended to about 1,620 inhabitants of Agordome, Agorwe, Azikpo, Apimkpo, Sonukpo and Twaweme. The grant under the Japanese Grant Assistance for grassroots Human Security Projects Scheme was signed by Mr Keiichi Katakami, Japanese Ambassador and Mr Anthony Kwame Adanua, Director of CIED in Accra on Thursday. Four other communities - Dzogborve, Agbolikpota, Agbakope and Dorfekope - all in the South Tongu District had earlier benefited from the project.

Mr Katakami said provision of potable water would reduce susceptibility to communicable water borne diseases and improve the overall productivity of the beneficiaries. He said Water and Sanitation Development Boards would be set up and trained to effectively manage the new water facilities in each community. Mr Katakami re-affirmed the Japanese Government's commitment to ensuring that people in developing settings could enjoy clean water and proper sanitation. Mr Adanua said the grant would end the competition and struggle with animals in the use of water bodies in the communities. "One important impact the provision of good water to the communities would be reduction in water borne diseases. human hours, and increase output for development," he said and pledged the commitment to execute the project on schedule. Mr Adanua said the first grant served a population of more than 1,180 with five fetching points and expressed gratefulness to Japan for the assistance.

Mr Joseph Oscar Azaglo, Assemblyman for Adutor Electoral Area, told the Ghana News Agency that the six beneficial communities fell under his jurisdiction and thanked the Japan for the project. The scheme was established in Ghana in 1989 to deliver targeted assistance directly to underprivileged communities and has since funded a total of 224 projects.