October 9, 2014

The Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has handed over five mechanized boreholes to some identifiable groups and institutions within her constituency to promote access to potable water and to address sanitation issues.

Among the groups and institutions are the Old Ashongman D/A Primary School, Yam Market, Taifa Community Clinic, Agbogba Anglican Basic School and Dome Mosque. These groups and institutions are located in areas with serious environmental and sanitation problems.

Each of the facility, which comes with a polytank reservoir, cost GH?25,000.00.

Ms Safo during the presentation of the facilities last weekend said her motivation for the gesture was to ensure cleanliness in her constituency, especially in areas where water was very scarce.

“This is to ensure that my people, especially, the children are clean, they have good drinking water and are saved from this Ebola and Cholera epidemic. Children are my priority – their education, their health and their livelihood. I believe the facilities are going to help the schools and entire community because they wouldn’t have to buy water anymore,” said Ms. Safo.

The Legislator said five other neighbourhoods and institutions would also benefit from the mechanized borehole initiative soon.

Communities in the Dome-Kwabenya constituency have over the years faced the challenge of getting potable water for domestic use as the quantity of pipe-borne water running through the area falls short of the needs of the people.

Those not connected to the community water system walk long distances to purchase the commodity at exorbitant prices. A bucket of water in such communities sells between Gp70 and Gp80.

The situation worsens during the dry season where a bucket of water is sold for GH?1.00.

Head teacher of the Old Ashongman D/A Primary School, Vinolia Bediako Madogo, said the facility had come at an opportune time and would save the school the difficulty of procuring the commodity.

She said the school had over the years been dependent on irregular water supply from the Municipal Assembly at an average cost of GH?40.00 per month to serve over 900 pupils, agreeing that the gesture from the MP for the area would help save them some money and also improve on the sanitation situation in the area.

“This is a blessing,” noted Madam Madogo.

A class four pupil of the Old Ashongman D/A Primary School, Hannah Abedu Fosu who also expressed gratitude to Ms. Safo for the gesture said “the borehole will give us potable water to drink and help us not to get cholera and Ebola.”

Head teacher of the Agbogba Anglican Basic School, Mrs. Joana Adwoa Brukum, also lauded the Lawmaker for the initiative.

“Water is life and he who brings water brings life. This borehole donated will go a long way to relieve us of the difficulties we encounter in getting water on daily basis. It will also improve on our sanitation issues in the school, especially, with the outbreak of cholera. We promise to take good care of the facility and use it for the purpose that it has been given,” she noted.

Leaders of the Dome Market, Taifa Community Clinic and the Yam Market all expressed appreciation for the gesture and promised to maintain the facility.

GNA