The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has inaugurated storage tanks valued at GH¢42,684.60 at seven locations in Nima under a pro-poor water project to ease the perennial water shortages in the area.
The project, which is part of the urban water project of the World Bank, is being undertaken by the Commission in collaboration with the Ghana Water Company, Aqua Vitens Rand and Water Aid, an international non-governmental organisation.
It aims at ensuring the provision and supply of potable water to poor and low income households.
The PURC in July and October last year assisted Glefe and Teshie with stand pipes and storage tanks respectively under the same project.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, said it was heartening to see various institutions partner each other to improve access to water in the Nima community.
Dr Ahmed, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, said most people depended on private water vendors whose product quality could not be ascertained and thus raised serious health concerns.
He said the provision of the storage tanks, one of many to be undertaken, was a demonstration of government’s commitment to help the poor access basic necessities of life.
Dr Ahmed asked the people to avoid illegal connections and building of huge underground tanks thereby depriving others in the community of water.
He expressed the hope that such initiatives would help the country keep on track the achievement of the goal of 78 per cent access by 2015.
Dr Hannah Bisiw, Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, said issues of water must be of concern to all and that government was doing all it could to enhance access to water.
Mr Stephen Adu, Executive Secretary of PURC, asked the management to ensure good maintenance of the tanks.
Nii Okai Kotei, Director of PURC, said the project would be owned by the community and managed by a Water Board made up of the elders and opinion leaders which had been set up to supervise sustainability of the project.