By Philip Tengzu, GNA
Nanvilli, (UW/R), Nov. 28, GNA – ActionAid Ghana (AAG), a social justice Non-governmental Organisation, has handed over 60 newly constructed boreholes to rural communities in the Upper West and Savannah Regions to help improve access to potable drinking water.
The facilities were under the “Strengthening Community Resilience Through Community Action Plans (CAPs)” intervention, being implemented by AAG with funding from the European Union (EU) and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) through the Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project.
The facilities, which comprised 53 hand pumps and seven mechanised boreholes, were part of 141 climate adaptation projects under the REACH project, a component of the EU Ghana Agriculture Programme, co-financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
A total of 60 communities in nine districts, eight in the Upper West and one in the Savannah region, benefited from the facilities to help build their resilience against climate change.
Speaking at a symbolic handing-over at Nanvilli in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Mr John Nkaw, the Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, said the interventions were priority needs of the communities in their CAPs.
He said the 141 projects, which included boreholes, dams, irrigation systems, soil health improvement and agroforestry, aligned with ActionAid’s strategic priority of promoting green economy and climate-resilient livelihoods.
Mr Nkaw indicated that the interventions were timely, particularly as climate change continued to heighten vulnerabilities among rural people, especially women and girls.
“In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, women manage households while trekking long distances to fetch water and firewood.
“As weather patterns become more erratic, these realities expose them to serious health risks and gender-based violence,” he said.
He added that about 690 vulnerable women, including widows and Persons with Disabilities, were supported with over 10,000 mango and cashew seedlings to strengthen their livelihoods, while 180 received improved cover crop seeds.
Water and Sanitation Management Committees (WSMCs) had been formed in the 60 communities and trained in maintenance, governance and financial management to ensure sustainability of the water systems.
Mr Matthias Berthold, the REACH Project Manager, said the water facilities represented more than expanded water access, describing them as “symbols of resilience, partnership and community-driven development.”
He said over 200 communities had participated in the CAP process, which allowed the residents to identify their priorities and shape the solutions implemented.
Mr Berthold observed that the EU and German government prioritised inclusive development models, which led to community ownership of the interventions.
Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said the facilities would bring relief to many people in the districts under the project who hitherto, struggled to access potable water.
He commended AAG for its commitment to promoting social justice, gender equality and community empowerment in its operational areas.
Madam Mary Haruna, the Nadowli-Kaleo District Chief Executive, said the facilities would reduce waterborne diseases and improve school attendance.
They would also reduce the burden on women and girls who travel long distances in search of water for their families.
The community members were elated about the intervention, expressed gratitude to AAG and its partners, and assured the benefactors that they would properly maintain the facilities to ensure their longevity.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Lydia Kukua Asamoah