Airtel assists Nyariga with borehole
Residents of Nyariga in the Bolgatanga Municipality are relying on basket weaving for development in the area. Through this activity, which the people are so good at, they aspire to provide potable water for the community soon.
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So far, in a partnership between the Blessings Basket Project (BBP), a non-governmental organisation and Airtel Ghana, a borehole facility has been provided for the community. The facility cost GH¢10,853 to construct.
Initiative
At a ceremony to inaugurate the borehole facility, the Country Director of BBP, Mr Abdulai Asuah, said in order to encourage the basket weavers in the area to save money, his outfit introduced the Airtel Mobile Money system through which they receive payments for their work on their mobile phones.
According to him, the company then decided to form a partnership with Airtel through which the people were provided with a borehole water system.
"The BBP's objective is to help the rural poor, especially women," Mr Asuah said.
Business
Mr Asuah said the company had since 2004 purchased about 149,326 baskets from the weavers at a cost of $1,045,282. He noted that the amount would go a long way to improve the living conditions of the residents.
The Head of Corporate Sales of Airtel Money, Mr Edmund Barwuah, disclosed that over 150 residents of Nyariga had subscribed to the Airtel Money transfer system.
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager for Airtel Ghana, Maame Dufie Cudjoe, said the provision of the borehole was the result of a decision by the company to invest in communities where it operated.
She urged the community to take good care of the facility and maintain it regularly to enable it to stay long.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Edward Ayagle, told the people to continue patronising the services of Airtel so that the company would be encouraged to invest more in the community.
He said the community must join forces with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) for education on ways of maintaining the facility.