More than 125,000 people in 30 small towns in the Northern Region are to benefit from a project aimed at improving sanitation and the provision of potable water for 13 districts along the eastern corridor of the region.
Dubbed the Northern Region Small Towns Water and Sanitation (NORST) project, the scheme is being financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) at a cost of $30 million.
The beneficiary districts include East and West Mamprusi, Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo, Karaga, Gushiegu, Nanumba North and South, Saboba, Chereponi, Kpandai, Yendi and East Gonja.
Inaugurating the project, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Albert Abongo, explained that it was expected to improve sanitation and potable water supply in the region by the end of 2015.
"Today, our percentage coverage of rural water in Ghana stands at 57 per cent and it is our expectation to move this to 60 per cent by the end of this year and reach 75 per cent by 2013," he said.
According to him, an estimated 70 per cent of the deficiency in potable water supply was found in the three northern regions.
"This project which we inaugurate today will not only contribute significantly towards the attainment of my ministry’s targets but also assist in improving living standards," Mr Abongo further stated.
He lauded efforts by the development partners, particularly CIDA, that had invested nearly $200 million to provide water and sanitation facilities in northern Ghana over the last 30 years.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, noted that the "net effect of all interventions by CIDA and other development partners such as the World Bank, the European Union and other non-governmental organisations is the attainment of 58 per cent safe water coverage”.
He indicated that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) was expected to provide technical support for the Water and Sanitation Development Boards (WSDBs) that would be established in each project community.
The Counsellor, Director of Development Co-operation of CIDA, Mr Michael Gort, said the Canadian Advisory Agency (CAA) would work closely with the CWSA in the region to execute the project.
He announced that about $15 million would be managed directly by the beneficiary districts, adding that the funds would flow to them through Ghana’s treasury system.
The Chief Executive Officer of the CWSA, Dr Philip Gyau-Boakye, said his outfit had played a significant role in the community water sub-sector and pledged its commitment to complement the government’s efforts at increasing potable water and sanitation coverage in the country, particularly in the three northern regions.CID
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