Kumasi, Jan 14, GNA - Five communities in the Kumasi Metropolis have been selected to have improved water supply and sanitation under a 5.2 million dollar Urban Poor Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

These are Oforikrom, Adukrom, Akorem, Gyenyase and Kotei. The project forms part of the wider African Cities for the Future Programme (ACF) being implemented in five African countries including Ghana= .. Mr Issaka Balima Musah, the Project Manager, told the media in Kumasi that an estimated population of 108,500 would have access to good drinking water and washrooms.

He said they had already begun with the pilot phase at Kotei where two bore-holes had been sunk. It would soon be rolled out to the other communities. The people in these areas for sometime now have been grappling with acut= e water problems as water has not been running through their taps. Mr Musah said the project would significantly contribute to the government's goal of expanding water coverage from 82 to 85 per cent of t= he population by 2015.

Mr Gabriel Kwabena Adu-Wusu, Programmes Manager, Ghana Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), an NGO, spoke of the need for proper maintenance of water and sanitation facilities provided in the communities. He said everything should be done to ensure that the facilities are kep= t in good shape and avoid the situation where these are allowed to ruin due t= o poor maintenance culture. He also appealed to the government to increase its investment in the water and sanitation sector. Mr Edmund Smith Asante, acting Coordinator of WASH, appealed to journalists to closely monitor the implementation of the project to ensure its success. Nana Kofi Adu, Chief of Kotei, said they were grateful for the project and pledged the support of the community.