Accra, Nov. 20, GNA - Efforts at addressing the acute water shortfall in the north-eastern parts of Accra, has been given a big boost with the completion of the 32-million dollar East-West Interconnection and the Weija Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project.

With the commissioning, eight million gallons of water would now be available daily for transfer from the Weija Plant to augment the 38 million gallons the Kpong Treatment Plant has been supplying to Tema and Accra-East. Madina, Legon, Ashalley-Botwe, Adenta, Nima, Kotobaabi, Accra New Town, Cantonments, Labone, La, Teshie, Ashongman, Dome, Kwabenya and a number of newly developing settlements along the Nsawam road are among distressed communities that are to benefit from the flow of water. Besides, there would be another seven million gallons for Accra Central and the fast expanding Weija-Kasoa corridor. The Project involved the laying of two 630 millimetre diameter of interconnection pipelines over a distance of 12.4 kilometres, replacement of existing pumps at the Weija Intake and Accra Booster Station, installation of Chlorination facilities at Accra Terminal Reservoir and laying pipelines of various sizes to the beneficiary communities.

Scancom Limited, operators of MTN, provided 20 million dollars towards the funding of the project, executed by Dutch Contractors, Messrs Ballast Nedam Ghana B.V. President John Agyekum Kufuor, performing the official inauguration on Wednesday, asked for a firm action to be taken by the local authorities to protect water sources and water bodies. He said given the increasing yearly decline of per capita water availability, it was important that, Chiefs, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies introduced measures to safeguard raw water sources in their areas.

Additionally, he challenged both water sector operators and consumers to accept the responsibility to take good care of the infrastructure provided in view of the huge capital required for the supply of water especially to urban communities. Maintenance must be effective, whilst all efforts must be made to stop tampering of pipelines, theft and illegal use of the facility. President Kufuor said the Government on its part, would continue to mobilise financial resources for investment in refurbishment and extension of coverage of water supply systems through expansion works. He commended Scancom for supporting the project. Madam Cecilia Dapaah, Minister of State, Water Resources, Works and Housing, appealed to consumers to ensure prompt payment of their tariffs. The Weija Treatment Plant Expansion Project had increased the production level by 15 million gallons a day, from 40 million gallons to 55 million gallons. 20 Nov. 08