Accra, Dec. 30, GNA - Dr Oakley Nii Quaye Kumah, Deputy Minister of Health, has given the assurance that the water problem facing Nungua and its surrounding areas of the Krowor Constituency in Accra would be over by th= e first quarter of 2010. The Deputy Minister, who is also the MP for Krowor, said: "The water=

problem would be a thing of the past by the end of the first quarter of n= ext year." Mr Kumah was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) an interview on Wednesday about plans to improve health delivery in the Krowor Constituency after President John Atta Mills swore him in as Deputy Minister.

He said he was teaming up with MPs in neighbouring constituencies to=

address the water problem,which had become a concern to the constituents. Mr Kumah said the present situation where tap water flowed only twice in a week was inadequate, a problem which had also contributed to poor sanitation in the constituencies.

The Deputy Minister announced that a program for desalination would begin next year to ensure constant supply of water to the people. Dr Kumah said attention would be paid to health, sanitation and education.

There would be education campaigns to sensitise the people on good sanitation while a scholarship scheme would be put in place to cater for brilliant but needy children at both the basic and post-basic levels. The Krowor MP, who is also Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, said he had given scholarships to 30 students in second and third-cycle institutions during his first year as MP.

He appealed to the constituents to give him their cooperation in the= successful implementation of Government's projects and programmes.