Tatale to have pipe-borne water by 2011 - Abongo

Accra, November 4, GNA- Mr. Albert Abongo, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing on Wednesday said Tatale in the Northern Region would enjoy pipe-borne water through the Northern Region Small Towns Water Supply project (NORST) by 2011.

He said the Tatale Water Project formed part of the first phase of 15 beneficiary towns in the Northern Region launched on October 27, 2009 in Tamale.

Mr. Abongo, who was answering a question from Mr. John Bennam Jabaah, Member of Parliament for Zabzugu/Tatale, on when Tatale, Nakpale and Kukpalugu in the district would be connected to pipe-borne water, said 30 towns were to benefit from the Canadian funded programme. The project would cost 30 million Canadian dollars and it is a grant to the government of Ghana.

Mr. Abongo said Kukpalugu was served with two boreholes representing 58 percent coverage and two additional boreholes would be provided under the GHC 30 million government investment package for rural water in 2009 budget. He said the contract would be signed for the commencement of the project by the middle of November and on completion would provide 100 percent water coverage to the community by February 2010. The Minister said the Nakpale project, which had conflicting figures, would be re-visited and re-examined for consideration in subsequent water projects in the district.

Mr. Abongo, the Member of Parliament for Bongo in the Upper East Region, said the Dixcove Sea defence project was in progress, when Mr. Samuel Johnfiah, Member of Parliament for Ahanta West wanted to know what measures were taken to ensure that the town was saved from the vagaries of the sea. He said the contractor had started blasting rocks off site for laying and all things being equal, the project would be completed by December 2010. The Minister said his Ministry had directed the Hydrological Services Department to carry out surveys, designs and costing for the construction of the New Takoradi Coastal protection works and their report would be submitted for consideration by March 2010.

This was when Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku, Member of Parliament for Evalue-Gwira on behalf of Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah, Member for Takoradi, wanted to know the plans for the New Takoradi shorelines. 04 Nov. 09