The residents of Abuorso, a farming community nestled in the Fanteakwa North district of Ghana’s Eastern region, are celebrating the inauguration of a mechanized water system, a project spearheaded by World Vision International .
The project is a great relief for the community’s quest for access to clean and reliable water supply.
Previously, the approximately 1,500 inhabitants of Abuorso grappled with severe challenges in accessing clean water, resorting to contaminated sources that posed serious health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and school children.
During the dry season, the community faced even greater hardships as the sole river serving the area dried up, forcing residents to dig deep wells in the river bed to obtain water for consumption and domestic use, often competing with animals.
However,the intervention by World Vision International has brought about a transformative change, providing the Abuorso community with access to a sustainable potable water supply.
Through the installation of a mechanized water system, funded by Vision Fund and supported by Korean development partners, five strategically located standpipes now ensure accessibility to clean water for all residents, including healthcare and schools facilities
“It will help us to wash our hands frequently, it will help us to get access to water to drink while in school. The last time I remember we went far to the bus to fetch water where people urinate inside the water so we fell sick. So this time we have water so we won’t get diarrhea,” female student said.
Another girl child told Starr FM ” We can now bath many times for menstrual hygiene, wash my pants, and cloth regularly. At first we gather our dirty clothes for weeks before we wash because of lack of access to water.Previously that we didn’t have water when we are tasty we go to our homes to get water while teachers are teaching so when this water came close to the school we get water to drink”
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Baafuor Otu-Boateng, Board Chairman of World Vision Ghana, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to addressing water crises in communities like Abuorso, aligning with the organization’s vision statement and the global sustainable development goal of ensuring clean water and sanitation for all.
He expressed satisfaction with the community’s proactive measures to maintain the facility for sustainable use, citing the formation of a management committee by the residents as a promising step towards long-term sustainability.
Baafuor Otu-Boateng stated, “These things can be sustainable and the community can take care of it. As we heard from this event, the community itself has decided to form a committee to manage the affairs of this borehole, and we are very hopeful that everything will go well. Our prayer is that the children of this community will thrive and live life in all its fullness and become citizens of Ghana who contribute to the future of a greater Ghana.”
Jonas Sowah Quaye, Director of Vision Fund, lauded the collaborative efforts that enabled the realization of the project, emphasizing the positive impact of partnerships in addressing critical community needs.
Reflecting on the challenges faced during the project’s implementation, Quaye underscored the importance of the mechanization in overcoming geographical obstacles and ensuring the project’s viability and accessibility.
Jonas Sowah Quaye explained, “In this instance, we realized that because of where this town is located, it’s difficult getting quality water, and so sinking a borehole ordinarily would have been done, but given the rocky nature of the area, the flow of the water itself would have been an impediment for the people. So we decided that it should be mechanized.
He added “Now, to go through the process needs a lot of money, we sought the help of our development partners in Korea to support us to raise the needed funds to meet it. Fortunately for us today, we are here to inaugurate it in the hope that the community itself will maintain it and ensure it is sustainable into the future, and that is our joy.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
