Minister of Works and Housing, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, has called on all Ghanaians to pay their water bills promptly to enable the Ghana Water Company (GWC) to run the system efficiently.

He said if government is putting in place measures to improve upon the water situation in the country, then Ghanaians should do their part to help.

Dr. Agyeman-Mensah made the call on Thursday when he inspected the progress of work on the expansion programme on the Kpong Water Treatment Plant and the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project in Kpong and Seglemi respectively.

According to him, as a social democrat government the welfare of Ghanaians is paramount to them that is why over US$ 273million has been spent on the project to provide portable water. He said, “We know water is life and we will make sure that the good people of Ghana have access to good drinking water”.

He said when the second phase of the project is completed, an additional 40 million gallons would be added to the existing one. Dr. Agyeman-Mensah hinted that this forms part of the government’s intervention measures to end the perennial water shortage in the Greater Accra metropolis.

When asked as to how the equipment are going to be operated and maintained after the completion of the project and the expatriates have left, Dr. Agyeman-Mensah said, some Ghanaians are currently in China undergoing training to have the technical know how to run the plants.

Background

The Kpong Water Treatment Plant is one of the two water treatment plants that supply water to the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).

The plant, which is located 54km North East of Tema, supplies water to Tema, eastern parts of Accra and some towns in the Eastern Region such as Krobo areas, the Akuapim ridge and Atimpoku among others.

The plants currently comprise of the Kpong I (old plant) and Kpong II (new plant). The Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project which is one of the many interventions by the government to restore delivery of adequate potable water is being under taken by China Gezheuha Group Company (CGGC).

The other interventions are the Kpong Intake Expansion Project by Messrs Siemens, which is delivering 3.3 MGD of water (completed and handed over) and the ATMA rural water supply project which was undertaken by Messrs Tahal to produce 9.24MGD of water (completed and handed over).

Beneficiaries of the Expansion Projects

The communities to benefit from the Chinese plant include the Accra, Tema Metropolitan areas, Adenta, Ashongman, Boi, Madina, Ashalley-Botwe, Nmai Dzor, Adjiringanor, West Lands, Haatso, Ogbojo, Dome and Dodowa.

Messrs Siemens Plant Project beneficiaries include Dodowa and Ningo-Prampram, all in Greater Accra Region and the Akuapim Ridge.

The beneficiaries of the Messrs Tahal Plant Projects are parts of Greater Accra region and Eastern regions.

Saglemi

Dr. Agyeman-Mensah said as a government, they will make sure that the average Ghanaian family will have access to a decent accommodation.

He disclosed that the Seglemi Affordable Housing Project is expected to produce about 11,000 housing units, adding the first phase which has about 1,502 housing units is almost completed as a result of a discussion he had with the contractors.

Dr. Agyeman-Mensah, intimated that, there is also a transfer of technology which will subsequently enable about 90% of locals working with the Brazilian company to acquire the skill to replicate it elsewhere.

He assured that by the end of the project, average Ghanaian “whether rich or not so rich will have access to these beautiful facilities”.

The Works and Housing Minister continued that the project formed part of national intervention measures aimed at reducing housing challenges facing Ghanaians.

Background

The Saglemi project is being undertaken by Construtora OAS Ghana Limited, a Brazilian construction firm, and funded by Emerging Markets Fixed Income Division of the Credit Suisse, London.

The Affordable Housing Project, unlike the previous ones is expected to have good drainage systems, recreational centres, commercial facilities, roads and other infrastructures, which will be provided as part of the project.

In December 2012, the Government secured a loan in the sum of US$200 million from Credit Suisse to begin the implementation of the Saglemi Township.