Urban Poor Federation provides water to Nungua Zongo

The Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor, has delivered two polytanks of potable water with each tank weighing 10,000 litres, to the residents of Nungua Zongo, a gesture the community members have hailed as lifesaving.

The provision of the water was in collaboration with the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA), with support from the People’s Dialogue on Human Settlement, a non-governmental organization.

Commissioning the project, Mr Seth Badu Tawiah, Municiapl Chief Executive of LEKMA, commended the two organisations for augmenting government efforts at providing solutions to the pressing needs of the urban poor, whose contribution to national development was phenomenal.

He said the Assembly was ready to partner with such organisations to implement more of those pro-poor projects, to alleviate the plight of people in the Municipality.

He told the residents that the Assembly would, in the next few days, begin the construction of the main streets and make them passable, befitting the status of the people in the area.

Mrs Janet Adu, President of the Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor (GHAFUP), told the Ghana News Agency that members have taken it upon themselves to upgrade their living standards in their neighbourhood.

She said in the process, they formed a Federation, enlisted members who worked and saved together to achieve their common goals.

“After having performed an enumeration of our areas, mapping structures, surveying the demographics, people’s incomes and other relevant data we use it to make informed decisions,” she said.

She said the Federation has made conscious efforts to secure land, and out of their savings provided the slum and shanty dwellers improved housing in Accra, which members have acquired, and are paying by instalment.

The Ghana Federation comprises six groups of individuals - the homeless, youth in slums, landlords association, rail land dwellers, Kayaye Association and Informal traders association.

Mrs Adu said they have been able to apply the funds towards the construction of 31 affordable housing units for their members at Ashaiman, who are to make part payment for a period of 10 years.

“With the help of Peoples dialogue on human settlement, the supporting NGO [Nongovernmental Organsiation] for GHAFUP, we are able to present our petitions to the Municipal Assemblies for aid,” she added.

A slum is a heavily populated urban informal settlement characterized by substandard housing and squalor.

Experts say while slums differ in size and other characteristics from country to country, most lack reliable sanitation services, supply of clean water, reliable electricity, timely law enforcement and other basic services.