2 provide clean drinking water to communities

Kosmos Energy, Ghana (KEG), and Safe Water Network Ghana, with support from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency have completed the construction of a modular ultra filtration water treatment plant for the Beyin Small Town Water Supply Project, at Beyin in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

 

The water plant will provide a minimum of 100,000 litres per day of clean drinking water to the communities of Beyin, Ngelekazo, Ekebaku, Nzulezo and Atuabo as well as Elembelle -- the Plant has the capacity to accommodate any future expansion needs of the water service.

The ground-breaking took place in November 2012 to start construction of this new water station to service communities in the River Amanzuri basin -- Beyin and Atuabo -- which face significant water challenges.

 

In addition, pipeline extensions were laid to service the smaller villages of Ngelekazo and Ekebaku -- the second phase of the initiative, which will continue in the latter part of 2013 and will also provide clean water to other communities around the River Alehyiale basin.

Upon completion, this initiative will deliver water stations serving over 20,000 people in several communities, Kurt Soderlund, the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Water Network said.

“Together, we are improving the health and livelihoods of communities by building the local capacity and capability for them to own and manage their water systems -- our partnership includes refining this approach so that it can be broadly replicated throughout Ghana for the millions still without safe water access,” he added.

 

Mr. Ken Keag, Vice President and Country Manager of Kosmos Energy, Ghana said: “Our desire goes beyond providing water; community collaboration and buy-in for the project are key, so that at the end of the day the community can claim ownership with a sense of pride. He said it’s a great privilege for Kosmos Energy to work alongside these communities, to support them in developing the skills necessary to own and operate these systems for the long-term.

 

He pointed out that Kosmos Energy is very hopeful that further partnerships with Safe Water Network, additional corporate bodies, and funding agencies will emerge to accelerate Government’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals -- providing those in need with safe and clean drinking water -- and urged the communities to ensure proper maintenance of the system.

 

Mr. Alfred Ekow Gyan, the Deputy Western Regional Minister commended the companies for the project: “I believe that the provision of such projects by companies will promote peaceful co-existence among partners.

 

“By that, the people in the community will see themselves as partners with the company and will do anything possible to protect the company,” he said.

By Juliet AGUIAR, Beyin

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