Potable water project for Tamale, surrounding communities

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Ms Abena Osei-Asare, has stated that government is to drawdown an amount of 12 million euros within the 2019 financial year to commence the construction of a potable water infrastructure project in Tamale and its surrounding communities.

This project, when completed, would be the single biggest water project in the Northern part of Ghana since independence and its successful implementation was expected to be a significant boost to the achievement of the Water for All by 2030 agenda of the government.

Beneficiaries

In all, about 27 communities are expected to benefit from the water project and they include Chesegu, Nanton, Yapei/Yipala, Chirifoyili, Nyankpala, Yepeligu,Dalun, Pong Tamale, Yaggoo, Gbullung and Sanerigu.

The others are Zagayull, Gurugu, Sankpala, Zagbullung, Jinosayili, Savelugu, Kusawgu, Kakpagayili, Tibung, Bagabaga, Kanvili, Tolon, Tamale township, Kumbungu and Vitin.

The project would pass through the Damongo township, en route to the following areas Yipala, Yapei, Banyasi, Ntereso, Fufulso, Sumpini, Busunu, Kebiesu, Tailorpe, Alhassan Kura, Jonopkonto, Achucunyo, Soalepe, Frafra Settlement No 3, Boroto and Nabori.

Potable water

The deputy minister,  who announced this in the Finance Committee of Parliament’s Report, presented to the house last Tuesday, July 16, 2019, said the project was expected to improve potable drinking water to more than 800,000 people in areas that were not originally supplied with a total of 30 million gallons of water to be added to the existing system.

The objective of the loan, according to the report of the Finance Committee, was to finance the design, construction and inauguration of a potable water infrastructure project in Tamale, in the Northern Region.

Project approval

The government intends to commence the project as quickly as possible and has programmed to drawdown the amount of 12 million euros within the 2019 financial year upon the completion of all the loan and project approval processes, the report stated.

According to the report, all other things being equal, the project was expected to be completed within 54 months, comprising six months development phase and 48 months works implementation phase.

The report further indicated that as part of measures to enhance revenue collection from the water to be produced under the project, there would be rigorous metering for water consumed and district metering areas would be established to monitor the water pumped to each locality.

Social well-being

According to the committee, the provision of the potable water would lead to a reduction in the prevalence of common waterborne diseases, enhance opportunities for agro-processing businesses and generally improve the social well-being of the people of Tamale and its environs, as well as improve on the services of health facilities.

Background

Tamale and its environs contribute significantly to the agricultural fortunes of Ghana by producing a large number of arable crops such as maize, yam, cassava, beans and rice.

Together with the newly created Savannah Region, the Northern Region boasts of a significant part of the population of Ghana, thus having a significant and increasing demand for water.

 The area also hosts several tourist sites including the Mole National Park as well as the Magic Stone, a patterned vernacular architecture and at the entrance to the Mole National Park, and the historical mosque, both located at Larabanga.