The Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) Sanitation and Water Project has connected about five thousand (5000) households to Ghana Water Company to access clean and quality drinking water.
The project is a World Bank sponsored project aimed at increasing access to water supply and improved Sanitation in Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
Engineer Somuah Tenkorang
Project Coordinator, GKMA Water Project, explained that, under Component 2 of the project, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources through the Ghana Water Company Limited will construct at least 100km of pipeline works in all 8 MMAs of GKMA to improve the water supply situation of at least 500,000 people.
The project will ensure that at least 5,000 households in GKMA are connected to the GWCL water mains.
Speaking at an event organized to commemorate this year’s World Water Day, he stated that, the New Service Connections aspect of the project is targeted at some selected Pro-Poor communities in Greater Kumasi Area (GKMA) thereby contributing to the alleviation of poverty in the society.
He disclosed that, Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) has so far completed the preparation of an urban water supply master plan for GKMA and prepared a calibrated Hydraulic Network Model to serve as decision support tool to guide all the investments under the project.
He said all necessary designs and pipeline routes have therefore been carefully selected to ensure that they achieve set objectives under the project.
Engineer Somuah reiterates that along side embarking on community engagement to promote private water connections has so far connected about 2,000 out of the 5000 water connections in GKMA. GWCL
He encourages all Low income communities in GKMA to subscribe to the private water connections which have been heavily subsidised under the project.
He indicated that, the project would also embark on a number of activities including the establishment of a Telemetry system to enable GWCL to monitor the health of the water supply network to improve upon the efficiency of its operations in GKMA.
He disclosed that, the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) Metershop in GKMA will also be upgraded to sustain the maintenance of water meters used in GWCL operations.
Engineer George Asiedu, Coordinator of Greater Accra, Kumasi Metropolitan Area) (GAMA) (GKMA) also pleaded with the media in educating the general public on the need to acquire households toilet facilities to enhance sanitation hygiene.
He was of the view the media play key role on educating and sensitizing the public on behavioural change as agents of change to improve the living standards of the people. Mr. Francis Mensah, Chief Manager Ashanti North of Ghana Water Company Limited has expressed worry over the rampant theft of their meters in the various communities.
According to him, most of their meters are being stealing everyday, which he said is affecting their operations to deliver on their mandate in providing clean and quality water to the citizens.
Speaking at the World Water Day celebration at mosie zongo, a suburb of Kumasi in the Manhyia North constituency,
The theme for 2023 was Acelerating Change: Mobilizing Household to Connect to GWCL Pipe Network.
Mr Mensah made a passionate appealed to the communities to be vigilant and help Ghana Water Company protect the meters and illegal connection from the unscrupulous individuals.
He proposed the initiation of watchdog committee in that regard to ensure that the meters are protected to prevent the perpetrators from the act.
Madam Faustina Boakye of Low-Income Customer Support Department (LICSD)explained that, the recognition of the importance that water plays in the lives of individuals and societies, informs the celebration of World Water Day each year on 22nd March.
According to her, as a group and individuals across the globe mark the 2023 World Water Day, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL)also takes a stand to demonstrate to citizens of Ghana and international stakeholders that, the company has a strong inclination to meeting the water needs of all people nationally.
She stated that, the believes that social and financial inequities should not translates into further inequalities in accessing and using safe water by all Ghanaians, especially children, women, the aged and the marginalized.
She noted that, the Ghana Water Company Limited has engaged community leaders and members of Moshie Zongo (a community within the Kumasi Metropolis) and other surrounding communities in a gathering to upholds in the community to pay subsidized fees to connect to the company’s water distribution network.
