Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has commended 4Ward Development West Africa for partnering government to provide access to portable water in the Tuna community among others.

The Vice-President commended the organisation when he unveiled a newly constructed customer-centered community water service system at Tuna in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Savannah Region.

Dr. Bawumia was in the Region as part of a two-day tour to commission and also inspect some government projects.

“The role of the private sector in doing this also provides a lot of sustainabilities as the economic module that has underlined this. So, I'd like to really congratulate 4Ward Development West Africa for the completion of this project for the partnership".

4Ward Development West Africa, the company that initiated the Tuna water project, is a private player providing safe, sustainable and innovative water service to complement government mostly in the Upper West and Savannah regions.

This is to aid in the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG#6) - Water and Sanitation for all.

According to the Vice-President, the government has done its part countrywide and will continue to push for more access to portable water for Ghanaians.

He added that the state is not the only player in the field of water provision, hence the partnership role of 4Ward Development West Africa.

"We also have small water system in Tuna and Kalba. Nevertheless, we haven't been able to do all and Government is not really the only player in the field.

“In the area of access to water, the private sector has an important role to play and it is because of this that I'm happy to see this particular project coming to conclusion by the 4Ward Development West Africa and their Directors", he indicated.

He said government in a bid to attain portable water has made an investment of 740 million dollars in the water system in various communities to attain Sustainable Development Goal 6 - Water and Sanitation for all.

The Vice-President said government has over the past five years reached a remarkable increase in access to water according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

"I recall that overall in Ghana, access to portable water and easy access to water was 87%. In the urban communities, they have 96% and in the rural communities, 74% access. Nonetheless, there is more to be done as we haven't gotten to 100% improvement in water and sanitation countrywide,” he stated.

He indicated how government's commitment to improving access to portable water has led to the improvement in the health of Ghanaians.

"Ghana has not had a single case of cholera in the last five years. Not a single case and as we will continue in this direction, it tells you that the investment in water and sanitation has been significant and worthwhile and we have not only focused on some urban water systems, but we have also focused on rural water.

“You see that here in this Community (Tuna), you see that we have some boreholes in communities like, Konkotey, Sanyiri, Nahari, Saanuo, Seima, and Nakwaba, they all have boreholes among others", the Vice President indicated.

While responding to challenges facing the Sawla communities, Dr. Bawumia said government already has plans to build a new Polyclinic for Tuna next year and also upgrade the electricity supply from phase one to four and extension.

He said the same development will also take place in several suburbs in Tuna, including the building of a new Police station at Gendabor, a suburb of Tuna traditional area to complement the existing one in the community.

"Nobody needs to tell me about the road because I've followed the road to this place and I hear the contractor is talking about payment, we are going to look at it".

The Vice-President disclosed that he has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo-Dampare to dispatch brand new pick-ups as one of the requests made by the Chief of Tuna to support the Police in their operations.

On his part, the National Director of 4Ward Development West Africa, Fredrik Sunesson assured the government, the Chief and the people of Tuna of keeping the water clean and flowing.