Accra, Jan. 21, GNA - A British made water pump, which uses solar energy for drawing fresh water from underground, was on Friday outdoored at the Ministry of Works and Housing in Accra.

It took two British companies - Sustain Limited and Grundfos Pumps Limited - 24 years to develop the pump, which is has a lifespan of 25 years, is capable of drawing water from a depth of 120 metres and for a population of 600 people.

Demonstrating how the water pump, called SQ Flex, is operated Mr Joe Jagger, Managing Director of Grundfos, said the pump operated by drawing solar energy by the use of panels and had a regulator to control the flow of water.

Mr Jagger said the water pump is specifically designed for Africa to meet the local weather conditions, water table depth and to optimise energy consumption.

"We spent 24 years to develop the machine and we can say that it is better than the hand pump system."

He said the Company had donated three of the water pumps to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu and one to the Ministry of Works and Housing to be used on pilot basis.

Mr Minta Aboagye, Director of Water at the Ministry, said the pumps could be of great benefit to the people in both the rural and urban. "Any initiative to produce potable water in Ghana will be welcomed by the Ministry but the initiative should take into consideration the cost and the credibility of the equipment to be used."

Mr Kwabena Osei, Managing Director of Sustain Ghana Limited, put the cost of the pump at 7,000 euros.

Mr Osei said the machine would save women and children in the rural areas from the burden of using the hand pump.

He said they looked forward to work in partnership with government agencies, non-governmental organisations and individuals.