By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, June 30, GNA – Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has intensified stakeholder consultations on the proposed €312 million Tamale-Damongo Water Supply Project.
The project is a major infrastructural initiative expected to significantly improve potable water supply in the Northern and Savannah Regions.
The project, designed to provide a long-term water solution for Tamale, Damongo, Yendi and surrounding communities, will abstract raw water from the White Volta River at Yapei and treat it through a new 135,000-cubic-metre-per-day water treatment plant before transmitting it to beneficiary communities through an extensive pipeline network.
The Tamale-Damongo Water Supply Project is one of Ghana’s largest planned water infrastructure projects, with an estimated cost of €312 million.
The project will be implemented through four major components covering the construction of the Yapei intake and water treatment plant, transmission mains to Tamale and Damongo, expansion of the Tamale distribution network, and the construction of a booster station and distribution network in Damongo.
The project is being financed through a partnership involving the Government of Ghana, the European Union, the European Investment Bank and Invest International.
Mr Adam Mutawakilu, Managing Director of GWL, said the project had reached a critical stage, with stakeholder engagement, environmental assessments and compensation processes underway ahead of full implementation.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement tour in the Savannah and Northern Regions, Mr Mutawakilu said the initiative was progressing steadily and represented a significant step towards addressing the perennial water challenges confronting residents in the project areas.
“The Tamale-Damongo Water Project has been on the drawing board for a long time. Today marks the beginning of serious stakeholder consultations on the environmental and social impact assessment, right of way acquisition and compensation processes,” he said.
He said the Government of Ghana, together with its development partners, was committed to ensuring that all requirements were completed before construction commenced.
Mr Mutawakilu disclosed that the Minister of Finance had already signed a €106 million grant agreement with the European Union as part of the financing package for the project.
He noted that discussions with the European Investment Bank and Invest International were progressing, with the remaining financing arrangements expected to be concluded in the coming months.
According to him, the stakeholder consultations were necessary to sensitise communities on the project’s benefits and to ensure that persons affected by the construction activities received appropriate compensation.
“We all know that without payment of compensation to project-affected persons, the smooth flow of work by the contractor will be impeded. We want to make sure all obstacles are cleared before construction begins,” he said.
The Managing Director said the project would produce approximately 135,000 cubic metres of water daily, enough to meet the growing demand of Tamale, Damongo and neighbouring communities.
He expressed optimism that the project would finally bring a lasting solution to water shortages that had affected the area for decades.
As part of the stakeholder engagement exercise, Mr Mutawakilu, accompanied by the Savannah Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Biawurbi, members of GWL’s top management and technical experts, called on several traditional authorities in the Savannah Region.
The delegation met the Yaagbonwura, Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, Overlord of Gonjaland; the Damongo-Wura, Seidu Kelly; the Busunu-Wura, Monasa Jonokpown II; and the Yapei-Wura, Dr A.B.T. Zakaria.
The traditional leaders welcomed the project and pledged their support towards its successful implementation.
The Yaagbonwura expressed excitement about the initiative, describing it as a transformational intervention that would improve living conditions and support socio-economic development across the Savannah Region.
The Yapei-Wura also welcomed the project, noting that it had come at an opportune time for communities in the area and would create opportunities for development while addressing long-standing water supply challenges.
In the Northern Region, the GWL team engaged the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John, and paid courtesy calls on the Gulkpegu Naa, Alhaji Alhassan Abdulai; the Dakpema Naa, Fuseini Bawa; and the Lamashegu Naa.
The engagements focused on ongoing interventions in the water sector and measures required to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
The Gulkpegu Naa commended the initiative and urged all stakeholders to cooperate fully to ensure that the project was delivered on schedule.
Mr Mutawakilu said while preparations for the new project continued, GWL was also implementing measures to improve water supply through existing infrastructure in Tamale.
He said significant investments had been made in the Dalun and Nawuni water treatment plants, including the replacement of critical spare parts and ageing equipment.
According to him, some of the interventions had already resulted in noticeable improvements in water production and distribution.
He said contracts had also been awarded for the supply and installation of new pumps and motors to replace ageing equipment and increase production capacity.
Additionally, he said, sections of weak transmission pipelines within the Tamale metropolis were being replaced to strengthen the network and reduce losses.
“When the new pumps are installed, production will increase significantly. We are therefore replacing weak transmission lines to ensure that the system can handle the increased pressure and improve service delivery,” he said.
Mr Mutawakilu said the interventions formed part of broader efforts to improve water supply while preparations for the Tamale-Damongo Water Supply Project continued.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
June 30, 2026
Reporter: James Amoh Junior
Email: [email protected]