Bolgatanga, Jan. 10, GNA - The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Boniface Gambila, on Thursday blamed the gradual emergence of guinea worm disease in the region to the failure by previous Governments to institute long-term programmes to provide potable water for people in the region.

Speaking at a three-day workshop organised jointly by Water Vision Technology and DANIDA for hand pump mechanics in the region, Mr Gambila indicated that if previous Governments had considered the fast growing rate of the region's population, they would have prepared adequately for the future.

Mr Gambila stressed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government was committed to the provision of potable water to Ghanaians, citing the Party's Manifesto on Rural Water Supplies, to provide at least 90 percent of Ghanaians access to clean water supply by 2010. He said he had directed District Chief Executives in the region to pay more attention to potable water delivery in their respective areas. Mr Gambila urged the mechanics to liaise with other partners in the water industry to improve upon quality water delivery to Ghanaians. The regional director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr Francis Awundago, warned the participants against collecting unauthorised fees from members of the community, saying anyone found extorting would be dealt with drastically.