W4 communities in Bongo benefit from PURC boreholes
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has handed over four mechanised, electricity-powered boreholes to communities in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region.
The beneficiary communities are Lungu, Balungu, Sambolgo and Gurigo.
At a ceremony held at Lungu yesterday, the Upper East Regional Manager of PURC, Mr Mohammed Adam Sulemana, said the project formed part of the PURC/Ghana Water Limited pro-poor water initiative being implemented across parts of the region.
He explained that the commission, as a regulatory body, was committed to giving back to society, hence its decision to prioritise the Bongo District, which continues to grapple with an acute water crisis.
“We earlier drilled four boreholes for the people of Dua in the Bongo District. We are here again to hand over an additional four mechanised boreholes to communities here,” he said.
“It is part of our corporate social responsibility and the vision of the Executive Director, Dr Shafic Sulemana, to reach out to areas facing serious water challenges,” he added.
Mr Sulemana indicated that similar projects were underway in other deprived communities across the region. He, therefore, encouraged stakeholders to advocate support for communities in dire need of potable water.
He also commended Ghana Water Limited for its collaboration, noting that efforts to address water challenges aligned with Ghana’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal Six, which focuses on access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
The National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for the Bongo Constituency, Mr Charles Bawa-Duah, expressed appreciation to PURC and Ghana Water Limited for what he described as a timely intervention.
He said the boreholes would bring relief to the beneficiary communities, many of which continue to struggle with access to safe drinking water.
The MP noted that several communities in the district, especially within the Bongo Central Zone, were affected by unsafe water due to high fluoride levels.
According to him, his office had engaged PURC and Ghana Water Limited on several occasions to find a lasting solution to the problem. He disclosed that it had been agreed for Ghana Water Limited to take over water supply operations in the district from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
“This is because, although the CWSA is doing its best, it appears it does not have the capacity to produce enough water to meet the demands of the growing population in the district,” he said.
Mr Bawa-Duah, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Water and Sanitation, added that he was working closely with relevant institutions to ensure the issue was addressed promptly.
For her part, the Bongo District Chief Executive, Ms Diana Asogtereke, said tackling the fluoride contamination in water sources remained a top priority.
She said the situation had become a major concern for many communities in the district and pledged to work closely with the MP to address the challenge.
FROM FRANCIS DABRE DABANG, LUNGU
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