Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd (GGBL), on Thursday November 21, 2013 commissioned an integrated water delivery system for the Maamobi Hospital in Accra.

The GHC 180,000 water project, jointly commissioned by the Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayitey and Corporate Relations Director of GGBL, Ms. Preba Greenstreet, comprises a network of mechanized boreholes connected to a reverse osmosis treatment plant and storage tanks with a total capacity of 60,000 liters – enough  supply to meet the needs of the entire hospital. 

Speaking at the commissioning, Ms. Greenstreet revealed that "when the water challenges of the hospital were brought to our attention by Ms Ayitey six months ago, we quickly commissioned a technical team to review the situation and to propose the best solution that will ensure this hospital becomes water sufficient because we understand the important role clean water plays in quality healthcare delivery".

The facility will provide sustainable clean water for the entire hospital and the over 89,000 annual patrons.

Ms Greenstreet explained that the facility was the third major water project that GGBL and the Diageo Foundation has funded in health centers in parts of the country.

The first two being the Tamale West and Central hospitals in the Northern region under the brewery's Water of Life Programme.

"It is our hope that this project will contribute immensely to improving healthcare delivery in these hospitals", Ms Greenstreet stated.

The Health Minister commended GGBL for assisting the hospital.

"Clean water is critical to healthcare delivery. We have witnessed in recent times how healthcare delivery in some health centers have been impacted due to the unavailability of clean water.  At such a crucial time where internally generated funds of most health centers are stretched, it is heartwarming to know that this project will sustainably provide the water needs of Maamobi hospital", Ms Ayitey said.

She said the gesture by GGBL will enable management of the hospital to channel funds which would have been used to purchase water into other important projects.

The commissioning was also attended by the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, the management team and employees from GGBL and a cross section of the Ghanaian media.

GGBL has since 2007 provided access to clean drinking water to 63 communities across the country under its Water of Life programme – an initiative aimed at enriching lives and empowering local communities through sustainable access to clean drinking water.