Akim Oda water project progresses
The acute water problem facing Akwatia, Winneba and their environs may soon be a thing of the past as the Akim Oda Water Expansion Project nears completion by the end of April, this year.
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When completed, the almost 165 million-euro project is expected to produce at least 1.3 million gallons of water initially and will be increased to eight million gallons by 2041.
Started in September 2013, it is being executed by ARDA GRUP, a Turkish company. The water project is expected to serve more than 200,000 people in communities, including Akim Oda and a number of communities in the Birim Central Municipality, Akwatia and Winneba.
The dam
The project is being financed by the Turkish Exim Bank, with counterpart funding from the government of Ghana, includes the rehabilitation and expansion of the Winneba Water Supply System.
During a tour of the project site by the Daily Graphic extensive excavation and construction works at the site to dam the Birim River were ongoing.
The Birim River is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the country because of the activities of illegal miners upstream.
The river has been diverted pending the completion of the construction work before the water body would be used to feed the dam.
The project will convey water from the Birim River at an intake facility and pumping plant located at Akim Oda.
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The 900 workers are said to be working day and night shifts to ensure that the project meets its deadline.
The Deputy Project Manager in charge of Civil Engineering of the ADRA GRUP, Mr Mustafa Ediz Armador, said at least 75 per cent of the work had been completed.
However, he said after the deadline, the company would still be at the site for testing and maintenance purposes until August.
“We are training local engineers to manage the plants. We want to impart skills that will be needed after we leave,” he added.
He said the only challenge the company faced now was dealing with indigenes who persistently turned up at the site to demand compensation and even block roads to demonstrate against lands acquired for the project.
The Site Engineer, Mr Seth Annang-Tettehfio, told the Daily Graphic that everything was being done to complete the project on time.
“So far, everything is on track. We are hoping that we would deliver on schedule,” he told the Daily Graphic.