Ningo SHTS gets water system to address chronic water crisis

Students and staff of the Ningo Senior High Technical School (NSHTS) in the Ningo Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region can now heave a sigh of relief following the construction of a mechanised water system for the school. 

The water system, which is expected to markedly improve access to potable water for the students and staff, was funded by the United Dangme Association of USA Incorporated (UDA-USA Inc).

The school, which has a population of 1,750 students with majority being females, has for a number of years been grappling with the unavailability of water. Students have had to walk for nearly three kilometres, carrying “Kufuor gallons” to have access to potable water; a situation, which adversely affected teaching and learning in the school, as well as the health of the students and sanitation.

Currently, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, although 87.7 per cent of the populace have access to basic water supply services, there is a disparity between urban and rural communities.

It is for this reason that the UDA-USA Inc took up the challenge to construct the water system, following a request by the Paramount Queen of the Ningo State, Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, through the Project Coordinator of the Association, Francis Opai Tetteh.

Negative impact

Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II lamented the negative impact of the lack of water on especially the female students, stressing that as a mother she found it frustrating that young people, some of whom had travelled from far off places to study in the area, had to be subjected to the stress of looking for water while they should be in school learning.

She applauded the UDA-USA Inc and its members for the gesture and urged the students to make good use of the facility while owning it as though it was built with their resources.

A representative of the President of UDA-USA Incorporated (George Tetteh), Opai Tetteh, underscored the need for regular maintenance of the facility to serve its purpose. Mr Opai Tetteh said apart from the water crisis, NSHTS was faced with a number of challenges, including inadequate and  poor washroom facilities, which forced some of the students to defaecate in the open, where they were exposed to scorpion and snake bites. 

Relief 

The Headmistress of the school, Rachel Bernice Cofie, assured the donors of their commitment to keep the facility operational through a regular maintenance regime. A student, Francisca Awurama Goxah, said the project had brought great relief to students who spent most of their study time trekking to search for water, a situation that resulted in them sacrificing their prep time.

She added that the students would now have the peace of mind to focus on their studies and compete with other schools for laurels in their final year examinations. The Queen of New Ningo, Naana Kweiki Djangmah II, also donated some essential medicines to the school’s sick bay to support healthcare delivery to students in case of emergency. Naana Djangmah II also donated a number of sanitary pads to the female students during menstrual hygiene education.

Writer’s email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh