By Frank Kwame Abbor
Akoefe (V/R), Sept. 9, GNA – Togbe Klakladosor IV, Chief of Akoefe Traditional Area, has initiated a borehole project to tackle persistent water supply challenges in Akoefe Tokor as part of activities marking his 10th anniversary of enstoolment.
He said the project was a response to the growing demand for safe and reliable water in the community, which has long depended on streams and irregular supplies from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWC).
Akoefe, a divisional community of the Asogli State within the Ho Municipality, has an estimated population of 2,217 residents.
The community currently relies mainly on a stream called “Dedzi,” which dwindles significantly during the dry season.
“Water is life, and it is my priority to ensure that my people get access to clean and reliable water,” Togbe Klakladosor IV told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He explained that the two existing public standpipes and one poly tank connected to the GWCL line often provided insufficient water, leaving households struggling to meet daily needs.
The chief revealed that due processes had been completed with the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, including its Volta Regional Office, to pave the way for drilling of the borehole at Ablome Akoefe Tokor.
“This borehole is one of many development interventions we are pursuing to ease the burden of my people,” he said, adding that seven other communities in the traditional area had also been earmarked for similar water support in the near future.
To speed up the initiative, Togbe Klakladosor IV said he, together with elders and opinion leaders, had mobilised community members to contribute funds for the project.
He praised the people for their unity and willingness to levy themselves to raise the necessary resources, describing it as a clear demonstration of communal spirit and commitment to development.
The chief also called for support from government, non-governmental organisations, and development partners to complement the community’s efforts in expanding water infrastructure to meet the rising demand.
Togbe Klakladosor IV was enstooled as the overlord of Akoefe Traditional Area on March 23, 2015, after undergoing all customary rites and rituals of the traditional area.
He said his reign would continue to focus on addressing pressing developmental challenges, including water, education, and healthcare, to improve the wellbeing of the people of Akoefe.
Meanwhile, the community members have expressed gratitude to the chief for prioritising their water needs, stressing that the borehole would greatly improve sanitation, reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, and ease the workload on women and children who trek long distances in search of water.
“Sometimes, especially in the dry season, we have to queue for hours to fetch just a bucket of water. This project will change our lives,” a resident told GNA.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah