Oda Nkwanta, (E/R), May 9, GNA - The Birim South District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Yaw Amprofi, on Saturday handed over a 50 million cedis borehole to the chiefs and people of Oda Nkwanta at a ceremony at Oda Nkwanta.

The project was finance through the HIPC resource programme. Handing over the borehole, Mr Amprofi said the project became necessary in view of the lack of portable water in the area and its associated health problems and reminded the community that to be able to have continuous water from the borehole, they must take good care of it. He suggested to the community to charge a token fee to enable them to operate and maintain the borehole.

Mr Amprofi assured the community that in the not too distant future a more permanent water supply would be put in place to provide portable water and un-interrupted service for them.

On HIV/AIDS, the DCE appealed to the people to avoid behavioural patterns such as casual sex, multiple partners, sharing of razors, syringes and the like that would expose them to the disease. The District Water and Sanitation Engineer, Mr Godfred Amoako Nsiah advised the people to set up water and sanitation committee (WASAN) to be responsible for collecting bills from consumers.

He said the WASAM committee would be expected to render accounts to the community every three months and appealed to the people to appoint dedicated members to the committee.

The Chief of Oda Nkwanta, Nana Dwamena Akenteng, II, who presided called on the people to tolerate one another's views to help promote peace in the town.

He told them that even though they might have political differences that should not make them enemies and urged them to support the government by making constructive criticisms for good governance. Mr Samuel Osei from the office of the President's Special Initiatives (PSI) later briefed the people on the PSI on Oil Palm.