The Akwamu-Pese community near Adjena in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region has received a mechanised borehole system from Hydro Cooperative Credit Union to alleviate long-standing water challenges confronting the community.

The donation was made as part of Hydro Credit Union’s corporate social responsibilities in fulfilment of a request by the Adontenhemaa of the area, Nana Antwiwah II, following years of lack of adequate supply of potable water in the community.

Until now, residents relied on a stream as their main water source, contributing to a rise in water-borne diseases, including cases of guinea worm.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility, Vivian Mantey, chairperson of the Interim Management Committee at a Hydro Cooperative Credit Union, emphasized the organisation’s commitment to supporting under-resourced communities, adding that it is their responsibility to see the needs of the people of Akwamu-Pese and bridge those gaps.

Mantey said. “Upon a request from the Queen Mother, we realised that they don’t have access to pipe-borne water. Most people here are not employed, so providing water is just the beginning. We intend to go further — soon, I’ll be stepping out with my team to plan the next phase. We hope to bring NGOs or organise people to come and offer skills training.”

Mantey also noted the Union’s broader community support initiatives, including recent donations of computers to schools in need. She added, “As Hydro has been in existence for 54 years, we have the power and capacity to support our neighbourhoods.”

Kamenahene of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Nana Osae Nyampong VI, expressed deep gratitude to Hydro Credit Union for providing a much-needed source of clean water to the community through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
The chief acknowledged that while an earlier project by Safe Water Network, an NGO, had introduced pipe-borne water to the area four years ago, it had not reached all corners of the community.

“This Hydro Credit Union came to our aid through their CSR and now we have a very hygienic borehole which is distributing water throughout the community. So indeed, we are very grateful to the credit union because they've taken away a big chunk of our worries,” the chief stated.

The borehole installation has significantly improved access to clean and safe water, contributing to better health and hygiene for the residents.

However, the chief also drew attention to another pressing issue affecting the community—erosion. He revealed that the foundations of many homes have been compromised, with some exposed to depths of nearly one meter, posing a serious threat to the safety and stability of residential structures.

“Besides water, the other big challenge we have is erosion. If you see our houses, the foundation of our houses has been exposed to erosion—some have been exposed to the point of one meter. So that is a real challenge to us,” he lamented.
He called on both government agencies and development partners to urgently intervene and help address the erosion problem before it escalates further.

The residents of Akwamu-Pese hope that this new attention on their infrastructural challenges will lead to lasting solutions, just as their water needs have begun to be addressed.

The Adontenhemaa (Queen Mother) of Akwamu-Pese, Nana Abrewantwiwaah II, expressed her gratitude for the borehole and echoed the need for further support, particularly for the youth. She appealed to Hydro Cooperative Credit Union and other partners to introduce vocational training programs to reduce youth migration in search of opportunities.

“We’re happy and relieved with the assistance from Hydro Credit,” she said. “Our young people leave our community because there are no jobs. If they can learn trades here, they’ll stay and build their future in this community.”

The new borehole is expected to significantly improve the health and quality of life for the people of Akwamu-Pese and marks the beginning of broader development initiatives in the area.