The German Development Cooperation in collaboration with private sector partners, Blue Skies and Kasapreko PLC, has handed over newly installed mechanized boreholes to 24 districts in the Eastern and Bono regions. The gesture forms part of the commemoration of this year's World Water Day which focused on the importance of freshwater.  

According to the United Nations (UN), 2.2 billion people are living without access to safe water, and observing the day raises awareness and calls for action to tackle the global water crisis.

The core focus of World Water Day, according to the German Development Cooperation and partners, is to support the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.  

The  provision of the mechanized boreholes, they believe is a crucial step to ensuring that the catchment communities of these private partners, have clean and safe water.

The handing over event was held at Oboadaka in the Nsawam Adoagyir Municipality as a symbolic commissioning of all the 24 boreholes.

The Team Lead of develoPPP Ghana, Dr Holger Till,  highlighted how vital water was, adding that its availability and sustainable management unlocks benefits including improved health, food and energy security, improved living standards, education among many others.

“This programme is actually very close to my heart. This is the real work I like to do and as a doctor who has been working in Ghana for more than 25 years, I know there is a very close relationship between water and health. So having clean water means having a healthy community and a healthy community means a productive population,” he said.

Dr. Till reechoed UNESCO's statement that sharing was truly caring when it comes to water saying, “ for that reason, as partners in development, we acknowledged that equitable water future reinforces prosperity and peace for all, hence this action, which also sits within the objective of our covid-19 project.”

“We are happy to contribute to this fundamental right and through this, together build a future worth living in; because clean water indeed means health,” Dr Hill added.

The Marketing Manager of Kasapreko PLC, Linda Aidoo noted that access to clean water was not just a necessity but a fundamental human right yet many communities across the country still lacked the basic need.

That, she said, was the reason the project marked a pivotal moment because together with its partners, her outfit was taking a step in ensuring that communities have safe and clean water.

“Our partnership with GIZ underscores our shared commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and families and empowering them with the resources they need to thrive,” she said.

He assured that they will ensure reliable access to clean water for several communities within Nsawam Adoagyir, Manya Krobo, Techiman North, Nkoransa North, Tain, and Akuapem South districts to name a few.

This, he says, is because they are equipped with technology to efficiently extract water from underground sources and ensure a steady supply.

The Head of Corporate Affairs and Foundation of Blue Skies Ghana, Alistair Djimatey urged the community leaders and the people to efficiently and effectively manage the borehole to ensure longevity.

He used the opportunity to highlight some corporate social responsibility initiatives that his organization had embarked on over the years saying that they are committed to helping farming communities who provide them with raw materials needed for their production.

“Blue Skies, Kasapreko and GIZ have shown exceptional commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development by investing in this vital project. This partnership exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and shared purpose in making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we work with,” he added.

The Kyidomhene of Oboadaka, Nana Kofi Otu Kofi I,  expressed his gratitude to the three entities  who he says have thought about the needs of his community.

He disclosed that the community already had about six boreholes, however, the water they produced was not too healthy for consumption.

“Within a week of completion, the water changes colour, and water like that cannot be used for anything meaningful. But the one constructed by GIZ, Blue Skies and Kasapreko, doesn’t seem to have any problem. You can store it for a long time and the colour remains the same,” he added.

Nana Kofi Otu Kofi I used the opportunity to appeal to the organizations to renovate an existing clinic in the community to meet the health needs of the people.

“We thank you for not excluding Oboadaka community as part of your social responsibility and I want to say that every single member of the community really appreciates what you’ve done and we promise to do everything possible to maintain it so it can serve its purpose for a long time,” the Assembly member of the Aboadaka Electoral Area, Laud Kwaku Akoffu added.

The initiative falls under a broader programme dubbed, "Covid-19: Comprehensive Pandemic Management for Employees, Families and Communities" project.

It is funded through develoPPP and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.