General News of Tuesday, 18 June 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Cabinet approves 233 million euro Water Supply Project

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Information Minister play videoKojo Oppong Nkrumah, Information Minister

Cabinet has approved a 233 million euro for the construction of the Tamale and Damongo water system.

According to government this facility aims at improving drinking water in the Northern part of Ghana which is estimated to benefit about 800,000 people.

The Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said at the press conference Tuesday, 18th June 2019, that as a result of the rapidly growing population of the North the Ghana Water Company were compelled to ration supply of water to some areas.

He stated the new project is one of government’s mandates to provide water for all by the year 2030. Tamale Metropolis, Yapei and Damongo are billed to benefit from this project.

“Cabinet again at its 54th meeting held at the jubilee house also gave approval for a 233 million facility for the construction of the Tamale and Damongo Water systems aimed at improving the delivery portable drinking water to an estimated 800,000 people in Northern Ghana”.

“This new project is aimed at addressing the supply constraint for Tamale and its surrounding communities as well as achieving the government of Ghana target of Water for All by the year 2030.”

The project is financed by an export credit facility from a number of institutions led by the Deutsche Bank and involves the construction of a new water treatment plant and the training of staff.

“The scope of works for the project covers the construction of a new water treatment plant with pumps and transmission pipelines, pumping station, new district offices at Tamale and the installation of dedicated power lines to serve new facility.

Water asset management to be improved through the provision and laying of primary distribution networks, service connection materials and the training of staff.”

Meanwhile, Cabinet has also approved two initiatives to boost science, technology, engineering and maths education in Ghana.

“Cabinet has given approval for two initiatives aimed at boosting science, technology, engineering and maths education in Ghana across basic and senior high education levels.

The Minister noted that the first phase of the project has been budgeted to the tune of GHC88 million for the first ten centers and a second phase of an additional six centers will be subsequently constructed.

Adding that it will provide practical methods for learning in senior high schools. This aims at enriching the academic content and is expected to be completed within two years



“The project which is budgeted at 88 million cedis is a school based interactive science and technology learning center, which will provide practical approaches toward learning in the senior high school system.”

The first is the construction, provision of equipment and training of teachers for regional technology, engineering and maths centers for the senior high school system.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said, the second initiative approved by Cabinet has been estimated to a budget of £76 million. And this amount will be used for the delivery and installation of the BSTEM equipment.

“The second initiative is a basic science, math, technology and engineering program budgeted at 76 million pounds for delivery and installation of STEM equipment (Basic Science Technology Engineering and Maths) to improve quality of science and maths education within the basic education system in Ghana.”

This initiative according to government is aimed at developing the teaching of science and maths to better prepare teachers in order to impact practical and problem solving skills to our pupils.