Residents of 15 communities and educational institutions in the Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region are expected to experience relief from years of acute water shortages following the commissioning of 15 mechanised boreholes by the district assembly.
The projects form part of efforts to improve access to safe drinking water and address persistent water challenges affecting households and schools, negatively impacting sanitation and economic activities across the district.
The beneficiary institutions and communities include ECG School, Kpassa JHS A, St Francis D/A Primary School, Kpassa JHS B, Kpassa Senior Technical School, Kpassa Court Premises, Mamakura, Azua, Shalom and Agape School, Obitiye, Ogyiri, Obunja, Decade, Papaye and Baduli.
For many residents, particularly women and children, the lack of potable water has meant travelling long distances daily in search of water, often affecting productivity, school attendance, hygiene, sanitation and domestic activities.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nkwanta North, Isaiah Kudjoe Dordoe, said the mechanised boreholes, fitted with storage facilities and multiple taps, were designed to serve both schools and surrounding communities.
Access
According to him, the intervention aligns with the assembly’s broader efforts to expand access to potable water and improve living conditions in line with the government’s decentralisation and development agenda and contribute to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal Six (SDG 6), which seeks to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all.
“Water is life, and access to clean water is fundamental to health, education and productivity.
This project is a direct response to the needs of our people, and we will continue to work to ensure that no community is left behind,” he stated.
Mr Dordoe explained that the projects would significantly reduce the burden on residents and schoolchildren, who spend several hours searching for water, while also improving sanitation and hygiene standards in beneficiary communities.
He urged residents to take ownership of the facilities by establishing Water and Sanitation Management Committees to oversee their operation and maintenance.
The DCE further cautioned against vandalism, negligence, and misuse of the facilities, warning that poor maintenance could undermine the long-term benefits of the investment.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with the district assembly to address the developmental needs of communities within the constituency.
He described the borehole initiative as a practical intervention that would improve living conditions and support effective teaching and learning, particularly in schools that previously struggled with access to water and appealed to beneficiary communities to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities and sustainability for future generations.
Some community members and students expressed appreciation to the assembly and other stakeholders for the intervention, noting that the boreholes would significantly ease water-related challenges, especially during the dry season when streams and dugout wells often dry up.