WaterAid Ghana, in partnership with Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC, has commissioned two major water expansion projects in the Upper West Region, set to produce over 203,997 cubic metres of water annually for the towns of Nadowli and Nandom.

The intervention, delivered under the Water for Life Project, is expected to significantly improve water access for more than 80,000 residents across the two towns. The commissioning was carried out in collaboration with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), the Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly, and with technical support from Interplast.

The Nadowli Township, one of the fastest-growing towns in the region, currently faces a severe water deficit. Of the 86,000 residents in the Nadowli-Kaleo district, 6,201 live in Nadowli, depending heavily on a single 80-cubic-metre overhead tank, which supplies 530 domestic customers and 12 standpipes.

Due to rising demand, the daily pumped volume, just above 180 cubic metres, is no longer sufficient, forcing authorities to ration water in the area. This has caused immense discomfort for households, schools, and even health facilities.

However, this is expected to change following the new water expansion project, which includes additional infrastructure to scale up water production and distribution.

Speaking at the commissioning, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, underscored the critical role of water access in community development. "Young children do not need to journey for hours before school. Households will no longer struggle to get water to cook, bathe, or do household chores. Most importantly, our healthcare facilities now have improved access to water for infection prevention and control," she said.

Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, Corporate Relations Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC, reiterated the company’s commitment to sustainable development and community partnership.
“For the past five years, we’ve identified communities facing water challenges and provided them not only with clean drinking water but also with water, sanitation and health education.
Thirteen of such projects have been commissioned nationwide, with a strong focus on the northern parts of the country,” she said.

She also highlighted Guinness Ghana’s intention to give back to communities that supply their local raw materials, such as sorghum and maize. “We’ve been very deliberate in choosing these communities because they are also where we source our local raw materials. As we celebrate 65 years of Guinness Ghana, our commitment for the next 65 is to partner even more with communities to ensure shared growth and improved livelihoods,” she added.

For the Nadowli Sub-Health Centre, the project couldn’t have come at a better time. Cornelius Ziekye, the nurse in charge, expressed his relief: “I am so overwhelmed. We have filled our reservoir. If you go to our facility now, our water containers are full,” he said with a smile.

Abdul Salam Murtada, Nadowli West Water Systems Manager of the CWSA, said the additional water tank would not only meet existing demand but also allow for the expansion of services to upland areas.

The project is a testament to the impact of public-private partnerships in addressing critical community needs and improving health, education, and livelihoods in underserved regions.