The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Dr Freda Prempeh, says plans are underway to extend potable water distribution network in Kumasi through the laying of 120 kilometres of pipelines. 

Under component two of the Greater Kumasi Sanitation and Water project, the extension will connect 5,000 households to the pipeline of the Ghana Water Company for access to clean and quality drinking water.

The intervention will support the Ghana Water Company to improve on operational efficiency. 

According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, access to basic drinking water services increased from 78% in 2017 to 87% at the end of 2021.

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources,  Dr Freda Prempeh  says the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Sanitation and Water project will improve sanitation conditions of low-income urban communities. 

Component 2 of the project, she says, will extend potable water by laying 120 kilometres of pipelines, five thousand (5,000) new service connections, reduction in non-revenue water, as well as the establishment of telemetry and retooling of Ghana Water Limited meter shop in Greater Kumasi. 

“There's a rapid expansion in water, urban water supply systems and access to safe drinking water in the rural communities which lack these basic amenities and resort to undignified practices. GKMA Project will also expand and rehabilitate the Asafo sewage system in Kumasi,” she said. 

The minister made these comments at the commissioning of three Institutional sanitation facilities and sanitation materials at Parkoso Senior High School and KNUST Senior High School to curtail sanitation challenges in the schools. 

The Parkoso Senior High School, which houses over one thousand and six hundred students, does not have a functional toilet facility compelling students to trek miles outside the school.

Paul Kingsley Arthur, the Headmaster of Parkoso Senior High School said, “Our population is growing and the old facility we have is not enough. Some students use the limited toilet facility as an excuse to run home and roam about. Having a new ultramodern one like this will keep students in school and we are happy to have this facility here,” he said. 

Similarly, students at KNUST Senior High School have had to deal with the dilapidated and unhygienic old toilet facility. 55 out of the 129 intended institutional sanitation facilities have been completed in eight municipal assemblies including Asokwa, Kwadaso, Old Tafo, KMA, Oforikrom, Ejisu, Suame and Asokore Mampong.

National Coordinator of the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Sanitation Water Project (GKMA-SWP), George Asiedu, disclosed that 17 other projects will soon be commissioned. 

“We will be doing more of the commissioning when they are ready. We still have about 17 to be commissioned but are in use. We handed them over to be used and at the appropriate time, we will come in to commission. We will also create more awareness for the stakeholders to support the operation and maintenance of these facilities,” he said. 

The Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Sanitation and Water project is sponsored by the World Bank.