President inaugurates Nalerigu water system

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, yesterday inaugurated a water supply project at Nalerigu in the North East Region.

Beneficiary communities are Nalerigu, the regional capital; Walewale, Wungu, Gbimsi, Gambaga, Naanori, Chereponi and Saboba.

The construction of the water system is part of a $47.5 million World Bank-funded Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (SRWSP).

Commissioning

President Akufo-Addo said the SRWSP had been implemented in 11 out of the 16 regions in the country. Its components include the construction of piped water supply systems, household latrines, health and hygiene education and environmental and social safeguards.

He said the Nalerigu water system would benefit about 106,842 people in the North East and Northern regions.

The project covers four municipal and district assemblies, namely West Mamprusi, East Mamprusi and Chereponi, in North East and Saboba in the Northern region.

The President said as the co-Chair of the Group of Eminent Advocates for the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, “I am glad that the completion of this project will help towards the realisation of SDG 6, which demands the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”

Advice

The President advised the beneficiaries to help ensure the sustainability of the treatment plant by protecting water bodies in the area and that this could be achieved “by stopping activities such as galamsey, sand winning and farming along river banks, all of which lead to pollution”.

That, the President said, would help guarantee improved quality and reliable water supply to the people of Nalerigu and surrounding communities.

“With availability of potable water in this area, investors will take advantage of government flagship programmes such as “One-district, One-factory” to establish small and medium-scale factories to create employment opportunities for the youth to stimulate the growth and development of the local economy,” he added.

The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) has been working on the project since 2017, engaging 1,152 professionals made up of engineers, hydrogeologists, water quality specialists, accountants, community relation officers and revenue staff, to ensure that the water systems were properly managed and maintained.

“I will continue to urge inhabitants in the beneficiary communities to help maintain this water infrastructure so they can continue to have access to potable water for good health,” President Akufo-Addo added.

The President earlier paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Sheriga, at Nalerigu.

Expanded water coverage

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, said urban and rural water coverage in the country had been expanded from 78 per cent in 2017 to 81 per cent in 2019.

She added that her ministry would continue to pursue the government agenda of providing water and hygiene facilities for all.

The Country Director for the World Bank, Mr Pierre Frank Laporte, commended the government for implementing the project which he said had led to the provision of water, handwashing and hygiene facilities in beneficiary communities.

Mr Laporte pledged the continued support of the World Bank to the development of the country.

Appreciation

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Nalerigu-Gambaga, Hajia Alima Mahama, on behalf of the Chiefs and people, thanked the government for the numerous development projects in the area.