President John Mahama has given a resounding assurance of his government's readiness to provide water to the northern parts of the capital, Accra, which for several decades, have not had water flowing from their taps.

The president in a two-and-a-half hour State of the Nation address to Parliament, Tuesday, promised that by close of the year 2015, residents in the Northern parts of Accra including Madina, Haatso and Adenta, will have water flow through their taps.

For residents living in these areas, water has always been a luxury for which they pay several thousands of cedis to tanker water services monthly before they have access to portable water.

Others who do not have the wherewithal, travel long distances with yellow gallons, referred to as "Kufuor gallons" [named after former President John Kufuor, when residents experienced similar water shortage] to fetch water for domestic use.

A recent acute water shortage that hit the country in recent times aggravated an already worse situation.

Addressing Members of Parliament (MPs), the president said there is end in sight for the acute water shortage in Accra.

"Government's long term objective in water provision is to guarantee universal access to water by 2025. In a short term, however, we are working to increase urban water coverage from the current level to 85 per cent by 2015, while taking rural water coverage to 76 per cent within the same period," he said.

He explained that by 2015, the projected water demand for Accra alone has been pegged at 150 million barrels per day. However, both the Kpong and Weija treatment plants, which supply water to Accra, would only be able to provide 93 million barrels leaving a shortfall of 57 million barrels per day.

In that regard, government is executing four major water projects, which would bridge the gap and add an additional 65.3 million barrels of water, President Mahama indicated.

He named the four projects as Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project, the Kpong Intake Rehabilitation Project, the Accra Tema Metropolitan Area Water Supply Project and the Teshie Nungua desalination projects

"This will end the water starvation in parts of the capital city. Those of you living in Adenta Haatso East Legon Madina, Agbogba, Abokobi will all receive water," he assured, adding, "we will eradicate the handling of the Kufuor gallons."

The president touched on other key areas including, Energy, Economy, in a speech that was punctuated with cheers and jeers from MPs.