Bongo: Minister Inspects Projects in the Upper East

07-01-2010: Bongo: Minister Inspects Projects in the Upper East

VTR

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Ann: The Minister of Water Resources works and Housing, Mr. Albert Abongo has inspected some completed and on-going water projects in Bongo, Kassena-Nankana and Kassena-Nankana West Districts and the Bolgatanga Municipality all in the Upper East Region, as part of his working visit to the region. The sector Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Bongo was accompanied by the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, project
Roll Tape: contractors as well as management and staff of the Ghana Water
Take Tape: Company and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency.

ANCR V/O: The Minister’s first point of call was at Gowrie in the Bongo District where he inspected water pumping machines and the treatment plant the Vea dam site. The dam which supplies water to the people of Bolgatanga and parts of Bongo is faced with numerous challenges due to illegal farming activities which pose a serious threat to the dam. Moreover, some operational facilities at the pumping station are over aged and need replacement. According to the Regional Water Distribution Manager, Mr. Geoarge Yanaore, most of the facilities are not in use due to operational cost.
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ANCR V/O Mr. Abongo later inspected 18 stand pipes installed for the people of Bongo and its environs. The project which is said to be completed by the end of January this year is being undertaken by the Community Water and Sanitation Programme.
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The project after its successful completion would afford the people of Bongo the opportunity of having access to safe and reliable drinking water and free from fluoride. The Acting Regional Director of Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Mr. Gilbert Amoah Ayamga expressed his outfit’s readiness to provide beneficiary communities with water meters since the stand pipes could serve a small number of people in the area. Mr Ayamga said negotiations are on-going with the Ghana Water Company to put their system in place so that a year after its completion, the water board can allow the various communities to connect privately.
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ANCR V/O At Sirigu in the Kassena–Nankana East District, Mr. Abongo paid a courtesy call on the chief and elders of Sirigu. He appealed to the people to contribute to ensure that each household in the community gets a household latrine. He called for co-operation between the community and the water companies operating in the region. Mr. Anyoka Akwana who spoke on behalf of the chief called on the assembly to help provide funds for the construction of the household latrines in order to promote the level of sanitation in the community.
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ANCR V/O THE Minister’s last point of call was Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana District. Mr. Abongo expressed satisfaction about the projects being undertaken in the areas he visited. He stressed the urgent need to fast track the urban water programme for the benefit of the people in the region. Mr. Abongo disclosed that government is in the process of finalizing agreement with some Korean investors for the delivery of 200,000 housing units to be constructed nationwide.
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He noted that land banks have already being acquired in the various towns and cities in the country, adding that his outfit is now working closely with the Upper East Regional co-ordinating Council on the acquisition of land banks for the 10,000 hosing units allocated for the people of Upper East Region.

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