The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned the Nalerigu Water Supply Project, constructed under the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, 28th July 2020, President Akufo-Addo noted that the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project has been implemented in eleven (11) out of the sixteen (16) regions of the country, and has been financed by a $47.5 million credit facility from the World Bank.
According to the President, in the North East and Northern Regions, one hundred and six thousand, eight hundred and forty-two people (106,842) are benefiting from the Project, whose implementation covers four (4) Municipal and District Assemblies, namely West Mamprusi, East Mamprusi and Chereponi, in the North East Region, and Saboba in the Northern Region.
âThe number of beneficiary communities are nine (9), and these are Nalerigu, Walewale, Wungu, Gbimsi, Gambaga, Naanori, Chereponi and Saboba. It is instructive to note that, out of the total amount of twenty-six million, eight hundred and fourty-eight thousand and seventy-five cedis (GHÂą26,848,075) spent on the water project in the North East Region, the cost of the Nalerigu Water System was four million, nine hundred and thirty-two thousand and eighty-five cedis (GHÂą4,932,085),â he said.
The President continued, âAs co-Chair of the Group of Eminent Advocates for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, I am glad that the completion of this project will go towards the realisation of SDG No.6, which demands that we âensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for allâ.
To residents of Nalerigu and beneficiary communities of the water project, he admonished them to help ensure the longevity of the treatment plant by protecting the water bodies âby stopping activities such as galamsey, sand winning and farming along river banks, all of which lead to their pollutionâ.
This, the President explained, would help guarantee improved water supply, in terms of quality, quantity and reliability, to the people of Nalerigu and surrounding communities, as water-borne diseases, such as guinea worm, cholera and dysentery, would also be eliminated.
President Akufo-Addo was expectant that âthe availability of potable water in this area, investors will take advantage of Governmentâs Flagship Programmes such as âOne- District, One-Factoryâ to establish small and medium scale factories to create employment opportunities for the youth of this community, and stimulate the growth and development of the local economy.â
With the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, since 2017, engaging one thousand, one hundred and fifty-two (1,152) professionals, made up of engineers, hydrogeologists, water quality specialists, accountants, community relations officers and revenue staff, to ensure that the water systems are properly managed and maintained, the President encouraged inhabitants in the beneficiary communities, with requisite skills in water systems management, to take advantage of the employment opportunities created by the provision of the water systems.
âI will continue to urge inhabitants of the beneficiary communities to help maintain this water infrastructure, so they can continue to have access to potable water and, through that, ensure the general well-being and health of all the respective communities,â he added.