Bolgatanga, Aug 17, GNA - The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Gerard Duyfjes, has been asked to help expedite action on the water treatment plant project at Tono near Navrongo in the Upper East Region.

Mr Mark Woyongo, the Regional Minister, who made the call on Wednesday, said feasibility studies on the 40-million Euro project was started in 2009. He made the appeal when the Ambassador paid a courtesy call on him in Bolgatanga as part of a working visit to the Region, to acquaint himself (Ambassador) with projects that were being supported by the Netherlands Government.

Mr Woyongo said the people in the Region lacked good drinking water and were looking forward to commencement of work on the project. He expressed worry that farmers in the Region had to stop irrigating their crops during the dry season so that the people could use the water for domestic purpose. Mr Woyongo said: 93The Vea dam that supplies drinking water to the Bolgatanga Municipality is too small as the population keeps increasing. The dam is gradually deteriorating coupled with the unhealthy fluoride quantities in the underground water in the Bongo area. It is important that we find alternative ways of supplying the people with potable water".

He asked the Ambassador to solicit more Netherlands Government development projects or investment for the Region since the people of area needed support to get out of poverty.

Mr Duyfjes said the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana was not directly responsible for the water project but he would endeavour to help in its implementation.

He explained that the Government of the Netherlands had withdrawn its support for 18 countries and was not enthusiastic about sponsoring more projects. 17 Aug. 11