Residents of Behenase in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region have received a major boost in their access to clean and safe drinking water following the completion and handover of four mechanised boreholes under the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) Pro-Poor Water Project initiative.
The four water facilities, which are expected to improve access to potable water in the community, have been strategically located at Behenase Basic School, Behenase Zongo, Behenase New Site and Behenase Bungalow to serve residents and other users within the beneficiary areas.
Each of the mechanised boreholes is equipped with a 10,000-litre overhead storage tank mounted on a reinforced concrete platform, a control panel for regulating the submersible pump and a standpipe to facilitate access to water.
The intervention forms part of efforts by the PURC to support underserved communities with reliable water infrastructure and contribute to improving public health and living conditions.
PURC calls for proper maintenance
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Principal Officer in charge of Complaints, Mr Alexander Asare, who represented the Regional Manager of the PURC, urged the Bekwai Municipal Assembly and the Chief of Behenase to ensure that the newly constructed facilities were properly managed and maintained.
He stressed the need for the community to take ownership of the facilities and ensure that they continued to serve the purpose for which they were provided.
Mr Asare reiterated the PURC’s commitment to supporting efforts to provide clean and safe water to Ghanaians, noting that the Commission would continue to collaborate with Ghana Water Limited and other stakeholders to improve access to potable water.
He called on the relevant local authorities and community leadership to put in place effective measures to safeguard the facilities against damage and misuse.
MCE commends PURC
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bekwai, Hon. Salifu Issaka, commended the PURC for the initiative, describing the provision of the mechanised boreholes as an important intervention that would benefit residents of Behenase and the wider municipality.
He said access to clean and safe water was essential to the well-being of residents and expressed appreciation to the PURC for extending its Pro-Poor Water Project to the Bekwai Municipality.
Hon. Issaka, however, stressed that the sustainability of the project would depend largely on how the facilities were managed by the beneficiary communities.
He, therefore, appealed to community members and traditional authorities to adopt a strong maintenance culture and ensure that the boreholes were properly used and protected.
The MCE further appealed to the PURC to consider extending similar interventions to other communities within the Bekwai Municipality that continue to face challenges with access to potable water.
He said additional support would complement the efforts of the Municipal Assembly to improve water supply and promote healthier living conditions for residents.
Chief assures PURC of maintenance
The Adontendomhene for Denyase and Akwamuhene of Behenase, Nana Obidiaba Sarfo Yiadom, expressed gratitude to the PURC for providing the community with the water facilities.
He described the project as an important intervention that would address some of the water needs of residents and improve access to potable water within the community.
Nana Yiadom assured the Commission that the traditional authorities, together with the committee responsible for the facilities and the Municipal Assembly, would work to ensure that the boreholes were properly maintained.
He urged residents to treat the facilities as community assets and use them responsibly to ensure that they remained functional for present and future generations.
Ghana Water Limited pledges support
The Officer in charge of the Low Income Support Department (LISD) of Ghana Water Limited, Ashanti Region, Ms Emmanuela Mary Osei-Sarfo, also commended the PURC for its continued investment in improving access to potable water.
She noted that the collaboration between the PURC and Ghana Water Limited had contributed to efforts to provide clean and safe water to communities across the country.
Ms Osei-Sarfo explained that such interventions were particularly important in communities where residents faced difficulties accessing reliable sources of potable water.
She encouraged the Bekwai Municipal Assembly and the traditional authorities of Behenase to maintain contact with Ghana Water Limited whenever the need arose for further testing of the quality of water from the facilities.
She indicated that Ghana Water Limited could provide water-quality testing services to help ensure that the facilities continued to provide safe water for community members.
A boost to residents
The provision of the four mechanised boreholes is expected to reduce the burden on residents who may previously have had to travel long distances or depend on less reliable sources of water.
The strategic placement of the facilities at key locations, including the basic school, Zongo, New Site and Bungalow areas, is also expected to make potable water more accessible to a wider section of the community.
The project further highlights the importance of collaboration among regulatory institutions, local government authorities, traditional leaders and community members in addressing basic social needs.
With calls for proper maintenance coming from the PURC, the Bekwai Municipal Assembly, traditional authorities and Ghana Water Limited, stakeholders are expected to work together to ensure that the newly installed facilities remain functional and continue to provide clean and safe water to the people of Behenase.
The intervention is therefore being seen as a significant step towards improving water access and enhancing the quality of life of residents in the Behenase community and the Bekwai Municipality at large.
