GRi in Parliament 24-11-99

Adjei-Mensah assures Builsa South Communities of Water Supply

Accra (Greater Accra) 24 Nov ’99

Communities within the Builsa South constituency including Fumbisi are to benefit from the Phase One of the World Bank-International Development Association sponsored Community Water and Sanitation Project.

Mr Isaac Kwadwo Adjei-Mensah, Minister of Works and Housing made this known in Parliament on Tuesday in response to a question by Mr. Norbert Garko Awulley, NDC-Builsa on when Fumbisi and its environs would be provided with pipe-borne water.

The Minister said the project would be officially launched in Bolgatanga on December 13.

Mr Solomon Kodjoe Akwetey, NDC-Suhum, wanted to know the ministry's plans to improve the water supply situation in the Suhum township and its newly developed suburbs.

The Minister said as part of its expansion plan, Ghana Water Company Limited had drilled boreholes to increase water supply to Suhum and its environs under the 1999 Public Investment Programme (PIP).

It is envisaged that these boreholes will be mechanised under PIP next year.

On the extension of supply to Akorabo, Mr Adjei-Mensah said in the near future, the people would be provided with boreholes fitted with hand-pump by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency.

Furthermore, he said, under a Danish Development Agency (DANIDA) Programme for the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District scheduled to take off next year, Akorabo would benefit from the construction of boreholes fitted with hand pumps.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, NPP-Old Tafo-Suame, asked the Minister whether he was aware that work on the extension of the 12-inch diameter pipe line to serve towns including Pankrono, Meduma, Buokrom and Ahwiaa, promised in last year's budget and for which Parliament approved funding in April the same year, had come to a halt.

Mr Adjei-Mensah denied that the extension of water supply to the towns including Mamponteng, had come to a standstill. "Work on the project is still on-going, and funding is continuing under this year's budget".

Another question, which stood in the name of Nana Asante-Frempong, NPP-Kwabre, asked when pipe-borne water would be extended to Ahwiaa, six kilometres away from Kumasi.

Mr Adjei-Mensah regretted that water stopped flowing to Ahwiaa, the centre of the carving and woodwork industry in the Ashanti Region, more than five years ago because of the heavy load on the transmission main, which also serves areas like Tafo and Pankrono.

The Minister intimated, however, that work by the Ghana Water Company Limited to improve the supply to Ahwiaa started last year.

He said under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (2000-2002), 2,550 million cedis has been earmarked for various works on the project.

This includes the completion of 300mm pipe laying, the construction of a booster station and the supply and erection of 245 cubic metre water storage tank alongside the construction of Distribution Network.

GRi../