The Rotary Club of Accra-West, in collaboration with The Rotary Foundation, Rotary Clubs of Dallas and Irwing Sunrise, have handed over three bore well water treatment, storage and distribution system to the chiefs and people of Takaase and Awukugua Yensi, Twumguaso in the Okere District in the Eastern Region.

In his presentations, Rotarian President Kwame Baah Acheamfuor said water is a basic need for survival and charged each community to maintain the water systems for many years to come.

The Mmrantiehene of Takaasi, who received the project on behalf of the community, thanked Rotary for coming to their aid with a reliable water source.

He assured that the WATSAN Committee of the village will supervise and maintain the system to benefit the community.  

Similarly, the Amankrado for Twumguaso, Foster Kwame Appiah Agyekum, who received on behalf of the Chiefs and the people, was excited that their long-awaited wish for good portable water has been realised.

He said the current water source is from a stream that gets polluted from erosion anytime it rains. He thanked Rotary and assured them that the water system will be well maintained for their own good.

The presentation to the three communities follows a similar one to the Akropong School for the Blind in February.

The latest donation is part of eight borewells and a toilet to nine communities in nine communities in the Eastern region. 

This three water projects costing ¢164,043 is in line with two of the seven focus areas of Rotary International in the area of Water and Sanitation and Disease Prevention and Treatment.

Other focus areas include Environment, Basic Education and Literacy, Maternal and Child Health, Conflict Resolution and Prevention, Economic and Community Development and Environment.

The three towns located on the Akuapem Ridge face perennial shortage of water supply and this has affected the sanitation and hygiene requirements.

The provision of the water systems will go a long way to alleviate these problems with farming being the major pre-occupation of the people.

This is essentially subsistent. Crops mostly cultivated are cassava, plantain, cocoyam, maize and vegetables. Gari and palm oil processing are the only agro-processing ventures.

Rotary International is an international service organisation whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service and advance goodwill and peace around the world.  

It is a non-political and non-religious organisation open to all.

There are over 35,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.2 million individuals, known as Rotarians.