Wa Municipal Assembly solving water problem

Wa, Nov. 8, GNA - Mr Duogu Yakubu, Wa Municipal Chief Executive, said that the assembly was sinking 19 boreholes to address the water problem in the area.

He said five of the boreholes would be mechanised and Busa and Charia communities would benefit from the small towns pipe water system. Mr. Yakubu was addressing the Wa Municipal Assembly at its third ordinary session to dissolve the assembly since the four years mandated of its members has ended. He said, Wa, which is the capital town of the Upper West Region depends on boreholes and mechanised systems for water. Mr. Yakubu said government in 2008 initiated a special water project to provide boreholes for some rural communities in the municipality.

He said that some communities including Tagarayire, which was selected for the provision of boreholes, under the project, could not provide alternative drilling ground following the rejection of the first proposed site.

Mr. Yakubu said that the fate of 12 other communities hanged in the balance even though community animation services had been carried out under the project. He said the Ghana Water Company, which won the contract to sink the boreholes, was yet to fulfill its part of the bargain, while other partners, Water Aid and Pronet had provided mechanised water system for Sawaba/Banungoma and boreholes for Tambleju and Tender Day Care areas. On energy, Mr Yakubu said 186 wooden electricity poles had been replaced with galvanized aluminum poles.

He expressed disappointment about the improper functioning of the newly installed street lights in the Wa township. Mr Yakubu said: "We have registered our displeasure on that and we have instructed the contractors to take immediate steps to rectify the anomaly".

About infrastructure development in the municipality, Mr. Yakubu said the qualification of the assembly for the District Development Fund had enabled it to get 612,242.47 Ghana Cedis for projects. He said 576,892.90 Ghana Cedis out of the amount would set aside for capital projects, including the provision of boreholes, the contraction of health facilities and classroom blocks in the communities and the remaining 35,349.56 Ghana Cedis would be used for capacity building. Mr. Yakubu said the District Wide Assisted Programme, had supported the assembly with 250,000 Ghana Cedis, which would be used to provide classroom blocks, health facilities and the supply of 138 dual desks for schools and furniture for teachers. 8 Nov 10