Kumasi, Jan. 31, GNA - The World Bank has provided 103 million dollars to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) towards the rehabilitation and expansion of the country's water system. Mr Hackman Owusu Agyemang, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, who announced this said the grant followed the entry into partnership with a private operator for a contract, to manage the water system for a period of five years.

Mr Agyemang made the disclosure when he commissioned a booster water station with an underground tank in Kumasi on Monday for residents of Pankrono.

He did not, however, mention the cost involved in the Pankrono project.

The Minister said: "This brings to two, the number of booster stations constructed with HIPC funds in two suburbs of Kumasi this year by the Government at a cost of 2.9 billion cedis." The suburbs are Pankrono and Buokrom, two communities, which for several years had to go without water supply. Mr Agyemang said 91 million dollars of the grant provided by the World Bank would be used to undertake systems expansion and rehabilitation of water systems throughout the country for the contract period.

The Minister observed that with the project now in place there would be renewal of pipelines to improve upon water supply to additional 126,000 people in the metropolis.

"Under the World Bank sponsored project, the GWCL will explore ground water to improve supply to Buokrom Estates, Kwadaso, Denchemuoso, Ahenema-Kokoben, Brofoyedru, Fumesua and Anwomaso", the Minister added. He said other areas to also benefit under the project in Ashanti would include Agona-Jamasi, Mampong and Obuasi.

Mr Agyemang also noted that apart from the grant, the GWCL was using 4.5 billion cedis of its own internally generated funds to extend the distribution network in other parts of Kumasi including, Patase, Sepe, and Tafo-Nyhiaso.

Mr Samuel Odartey Lamptey, Managing Director of the GWCL, also announced moves to further expand the Barekese treatment plant and the refurbishment of the Owabi treatment plants. He said the project, which was estimated at 35 million Euros also sought to address partially the problem of siltation of the Barekese reservoir.

Nana Boakye Yiadom, Pankronohene, commended the Government for the numerous projects it had provided for the area since it assumed power. Dr Akoto Osei, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tafo and also Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, said construction of the water booster and tank, was in fulfilment of government's electioneering pledge to them. 31 Jan. 06