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General News of Sunday, February 3, 2019
Source: ghananewsagency.org
2019-02-03
Photo file
The Chinese government has provided the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources 1,029 boreholes that it has built in 10 regions of Ghana to improve rural communities' access to safe drinking water to reach the sixth objective of sustainable development.
The project was financed by a grant from the Chinese Government, under the Corporation and economic and technical agreement signed in December 2015.
At the handover ceremony held in Densusu near Suhum, in the east of the country, Mr. Shi Ting Wang, Chinese Ambbadador to Ghana, said that the wells included hand-pump and submersible pumps, which cost $ 20 million or 100 million cedis.
He said the 1,029 boreholes would provide clean and hygienic drinking water to more than 500,000 isolated communities and rural residents, and that they would be monuments illustrating the friendship between Ghana and China.
China is willing to provide $ 60 billion to support Africa through government badistance, financial institutions, as well as investment and corporate financing , did he declare.
Shi said China is ready to lend its strength and wisdom to the goal of "Ghana Beyond Aid" pursued by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, who resumed drilling on behalf of the beneficiary communities, said that it was undeniable that access to safe water and improved sanitation was the key to the socio-economic development of a country. country.
"It is in this regard that the government would support any initiative to improve access to drinking water and improve sanitation services for all Ghanaians."
Dapaah said Ghana, the Joint Monitoring Platform and UNICEF, as well as the world, were able to halve the number of people using unimproved sources of drinking water, adding that 89% of the Ghanaian population had access to an improved water source. .
She noted that the report, however, identified inequities between rich and poor and geographical areas as a challenge, which persisted in many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Therefore, in the face of population growth, it is necessary to address these disparities in order for Ghana to reach its goal of water and sanitation for all by the year 2025, Dapaah said.
The issue of sustainability of water supply and sanitation services, as well as the quality of water, from the source to the point of use at the household level, also been a challenge.
She called on communities to help maintain the water services provided and urged the Municipal and District Assemblies to educate community members on the hygienic ways to transport, store and use water to prevent water loss. not compromise its quality.
"The government expects citizens, especially domestic consumers, who would benefit from this drilling project, to provide their quota by ensuring the protection and sustainability of investments in the water sector." Ms. Dapaah added.
Nana Baffuor Adu Ameyaw II, head of the traditional sector of Densusu, expressed the community's gratitude to the Chinese government for this kind gesture, stating, "This is a memorable day for us".
He congratulated the government on choosing Densusu as the beneficiary and badured that community members would use the facilities and ensure proper maintenance.
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