Agona Kwayanko (C/R), Sept 9, GNA- The Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, on Thursday paid a working visit to the Agona Kwayanko Water Works as part of his familiarization tour of institutions and organizations under his Ministry.

The Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr Amoah Gyarteng, and Mr Sam Baidu, Chief Technical Advisor of the sector accompanied the Minister. Mr Okomeng-Mensah, Project Manager of the Royal Consult, took the Minister round to inspect the facility.

They visited the aeration cascade, where fresh water is turn into clean one, rapid and low gravity filtration site, Chlorine dosing room, disinfect contact chamber, high lifting pumping station and general service building.

The Minister commended the contractor Messrs Deny Construction Firm, from Netherlands for completing the 28 million Euros contract work on the rehabilitation and expansion of the dam far ahead on schedule. Alhaji Saddique said he was impressed with the quality work done by the contractor, which has halted the perennial water shortage in some communities in the five districts of the Central Region. The Minister asked the Ghana Water Company (GWC) not to charge high water tariffs immediately but allow the dam to operate for a period before adjustments are made.

He urged the Management of the GWC to monitor and maintain the old system to support the new machines to prolong its life span. Alhaji Saddique said the government would continue seeking financial support to run the water systems in the country to provide quality water to people in the rural areas. The Minister said the dam has been projected and designed to supply water to the people in the five districts even if their population increased to 750,000 by 2025.