Sege, July 26, (GNA) -- Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister of Water Resource, Work and Housing has cut sod for the commencement of a multi billion water and sanitation project for three Dangme districts. The project, which would provide potable drinking water to over 120,000 residents of Dangme East, Dangme West and North Tongu districts is expected to be completed before the year 2008.

The Minister indicated that, the project would include an installation of a water treatment plant at Aveyime in the Volta Region, and administration block at Sege, construction of pump house and elevated reservoir as well as erecting of overhead tanks at vantage locations.

He said for the people to cultivate the habit of maintaining state properties, beneficiary districts would contribute five percent of the total cost, while the government with the help of Denmark and the United Kingdom governments foot the remaining 95 percent. Mr Owusu Agyeman advised the contractors to provide employment opportunities to youth in the locality by using them as labour for the project.

Madam Theresa Amerley Tagoe, Deputy Greater Accra Minister also noted that, with provision of potable water in the districts water-borne diseases such as guinea worm, bilharzias, among others would be reduced. Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, in a speech urged government to put in place mechanisms that would prevent private entrepreneurs from exploiting the poor. He also asked for the regulation of water prices at all levels in order for the achievement of affordable potable water for all in the country.