By Michael Foli Jackidy
Adidokpui (V/R), June 9, GNA – Qatar Charity Foundation, a Qatar-based non-governmental organization, has commissioned a mechanised borehole for the Adidokpui community in the Agortime-Ziope District.
The project was initiated by Madam Aku Sika Kpene, a businesswoman and former Deputy Volta Regional Women’s Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The commissioning ceremony, held on Sunday, June 8, follows a report published by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in August 2024 highlighting the dire water crisis facing the Adidokpui community.
Madam Kpene, who spearheaded the project, recounted how the GNA report published on August 11, 2024, revealed that women and children in the community had to walk nearly nine miles under harsh conditions to fetch water from unsafe sources such as the Kplikpa stream.
This, she said, exposed them to various health and safety risks and affected their education and livelihoods.
“I am proud to say we are responding to that call for help,” she said.
She emphasised that access to clean water is not just a necessity, but a fundamental human right.
“Water is life. It is the heartbeat of every home, the foundation of health, and the key to unlocking people’s potential. Yet globally, over 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, and 3.5 billion are without safe sanitation, according to UNICEF and WHO,” she added.
Madam Kpene described herself as a proud daughter of Agortime-Ziope, with a lifelong commitment to the development and prosperity of her people.
She said her childhood dream was to help build a thriving community where every child can dream big, every woman can reach her full potential, and every family can live with dignity.
“This borehole project is a major milestone in that vision, addressing a critical need for safe, accessible, and affordable drinking water. But this is just the beginning,” she stated, pledging to bring more development initiatives to the area, including schools, health facilities, and economic empowerment programmes.
She expressed her gratitude to the Ghana News Agency for shedding light on the issue, and to Qatar Charity Foundation for their swift and generous intervention.
She stated that since opening their office in Accra in 2016, the organization had provided 9,117 sponsorships and implemented 4,979 development projects across the country.
These include notable initiatives such as the construction of the Al-Mustafa Mosque and Quran Memorization Centre in Accra, as well as the Dar El Salam Model Village in Kadewaso, offering educational facilities, healthcare services, residential units, and income-generating opportunities.
Their commitment to water access is evident through numerous borehole projects—one in Tamale North in the Northern Region, four in Ketu North in the Volta Region, and five in North Tongu—demonstrating a strong dedication to improving rural water infrastructure.
In addition, the organization has supported a health facility in Agona Swedru, donated wheelchairs and blood pressure machines to the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and the Ho Teaching Hospital, and provided relief items to flood victims in North Tongu affected by the Volta River Authority (VRA) spillage.
She emphasised that the NGO’s involvement in water initiatives in the Agortime-Ziope area had been particularly inspiring.
The newly commissioned borehole in Adidokpui, she said, was a powerful example of how impactful partnerships could drive sustainable development and significantly improve lives within underserved communities.
Mr. Daniel Agbesi Latsu, a former Assemblyman for the Keyime Electoral Area and a GNA Stringer, was commended for his pivotal role in the project.
His article, “Adidokpui Residents Appeal for Potable, Accessible Water” (published August 10, 2024), drew attention to the community’s plight and prompted the intervention by Qatar Charity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Latsu said he had also previously lobbied for water systems in other nearby communities — Adzonkor, Agbedor Kofe, and Konor Kofe — with the support of the New York-based NGO, International Help of Missionaries.
He revealed that additional communities, including Kpenkor, Avelebe (Gayina Kofe), and Datsiedu Adzorvi are expected to benefit from similar projects, this year.
“My only desire is to leave a legacy behind — one that people will remember long after I’m gone,” he said.
Mr. Alfred Klu Odikro, District Chief Executive of Agortime-Ziope, commended the Qatar Charity Foundation and the GNA for their invaluable contributions. “You are making my job as DCE much easier,” he remarked.
He encouraged residents to actively support and participate in developmental efforts in the area, noting that progress can only be achieved through community involvement.
Traditional leaders and community members expressed deep appreciation for the project.
Many, speaking to the GNA, praised the media’s role in bringing about such a meaningful transformation.
The ceremony was attended by traditional authorities, NDC Women’s Wing members, constituency and branch executives, and a large number of community residents.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Christian Akorlie