Adaklu-Tsrefe, (V/R), Feb. 22, GNA- A three-billion cedis water supply project from Ho to ten communities in the Adaklu traditional area was launched by the Chiefs and people of the traditional area at a fund-raising durbar at Adaklu-Tsrefe on Saturday.

The project, initiated by the Adaklu Area Council would be jointly funded by the beneficiary communities from levies of 20,000 cedis and 50,000 cedis each resident and non-resident citizen respectively. Ten percent cost of the project and communal labour would be borne by the people with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) taking the rest of the cost.

In his address Togbega Gbogbi Atsa V, Paramount Chief of the Area said that the extension of pipe-borne water to the traditional area would transform the area from one of poverty, diseases and low productivity into a haven of good health, wealth creation, and tourism. He commended the initiative of the Adaklu Area Council to initiate the project.

"I wish to say that all my Chiefs, Elders, Opinion Leaders and Unit Committees should and must see this project as the life-wire of development in Adaklu", Togbega Gbogbi said.

He urged his people to "embrace the positive initiatives of the government" with a warning to the youth "not to give in to the pressures of over-ambitious and self-seeking politicians, who may want to create any confusion at the 2004 polls".

He urged those who are eligible to vote to register when the voters register was opened in March.

Mr Maxwell Gbakah, Chairman of the Adaklu-Area Council told newsmen there had been several projects aimed at solving the area's water supply problem through tapping underground water. He said in all water was found to be alkaline and oily in quality and therefore unsuitable for consumption. Mr Gbakah said the communities had no option but to rely on ponds and streams for their water supply, which becomes acute in the dry season.

He said the Area Council therefore decided to tackle the problem in a more sustainable way by initiating the project to extend pipe-borne water from Ho to the Adaklu area. He was optimistic that the communities would be able to raise over 150 million cedis in six months for the project to commence. Over 15 million cedis was realised at the function.