Fomena (Ash), May 24, GNA - Two major water and sanitation projects designed to give many communities in the Adansi North District of Ashanti, portable water and improved latrines have been launched at Fumso and Fomena.

Under the 2.074 billion cedis small town water supply and sanitation project, the people of Fumso and its environs would be provided with a reservoir and seven standpipes to supply them with good drinking water.

The district assembly and the Fumso community are contributing five per cent each with the bulk of the funding from the World Bank International Development Association to the project, which is to be executed by Ms/Chinahenen Geo Engineering Construction Company with its headquarters in Tamale.

Under the second project, which formed part of phase four of the Rural Water Supply programme, at least 200 boreholes, 200 households and 13 institutional latrines would be accessed by the communities. The Ghana Government and KFW of Germany are providing funds for the project.

Speaking at separate functions, Mr Peter Kwabena Ameyaw, the District Chief Executive, (DCE) said with over 83 communities and other numerous hamlets, it was imperative for the assembly to mobilize assistance and resources to provide the people with potable water. He said the safety and health implications associated with the absence of good quality water were enormous and this could result in the resurgence of water-related diseases.

"Water is a necessary commodity and there is ample evidence that given the opportunity of dependable and good quality water services, communities are prepared even to pay an economic price that reflects the value for water", Mr Ameyaw said.

The DCE said under the German Government and Government of Ghana collaboration, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency would be assisted to provide water and improve sanitation facilities to rural communities in 15 districts in the Ashanti Region between 2005 and 2009. He told the Fumso community to ensure that they owned the project on completion and that they should manage it in such a way that it would encourage the assembly to turn its attention to other communities. Mr Ameyaw advised the people to avoid any confrontation with the contractor, the consultants and the working staff, so that they would give off their best for the project.