Ghana and Togo on Thursday signed a joint application agreement to kick start the implementation of the Sogakope-Lome Trans-Boundary Water Supply project which dates back to the 1970s.

Water sector ministers from the two countries, Mr Enoch T. Mensah of Ghana, and General Zakari Nandja of Togo, initialed the agreement at Sogakope in the Volta Region to request for the project preparation funds for its implementation from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The project, which in 2003 was estimated at $119 million, will see the construction of a water treatment plant to use the Volta River to produce treated water for transmission to Lome, Togo.

All towns and villages along the transmission pipe rout in Ghana will also be supplied with the treated water; the beneficiary communities include Ehie, Denu, Agbozume, Tokor Betsima, Gamadzra Anyako, Kilkor, Avoene, Sogakope and Akatsi, Adidome, Aflao and Abor.

The project, to be completed in about two and half years, will be based on a Public Private Partnership Agreement (PPP) arrangement such that, through a water purchase agreement, the two countries would not make any direct investment.

“It is a project that has brought into fruition the political will and commitment of both countries to integrate our respective economies", Ghana’s Water Resources, Works and Housing Minister, Mr Mensah said prior to the signing.

He said, besides Ghana’s excellent cooperation in the energy sector with Togo, the water supply project also presents an opportunity to improve the general health status, hygiene of the population and citizen’s standard of living of both countries.

“…the project is also one of the pillars for implementing the strategy of socio-political and economic integration using the ECOWAS protocols and the cooperation agreement of the Volta Basin Authority of which the two countries are members,” Mr Mensah said.

To have potable water in sufficient quantities, General Nandja, the Togolese Water, Sanitation and Rural Water Minister, said it is not a luxury but a fundamental right that all political leaders must provide to their people.

He commended the two countries’ presidents – John Atta Mills of Ghana and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, for taking steps to implement the over 40 years old “dream” project, which feasibility studies was carried out with funding from the United States Trade and Development Agency in 2003.

General Nandja, also described the signing as a translation of the two countries’ commitment to foster strong cooperation and peace.

“Already we (Togo) are enjoying energy supply from Ghana, so this project also goes to show our strong cooperation,” he said; hoping the AfDB would soon approve the details of the project.

Ghana Water Company Limited Managing Director, Mr Kweku Botwe, welcoming officials at the signing ceremony, said when completed, the project would produce between 40 and 70 million gallons of water a day.

He said a lot of work had been done by the water companies of the two countries and hoped the AfDB would approve the funds because many private investors had expressed interest to undertake the project.**