By Albert Oppong-Ansah, GNA
Sawaba (N/E), Oct. 26, GNA – The Austrian Ambassador to Ghana has handed over a solar-powered water supply system to the chiefs and people of Sawaba in the North-East Region to improve access to water and strengthen the community’s resilience to climate change.
The facility, provided with support from the Austrian Government, through Brave Aurora, a civil society organisation, is expected to ease the burden on residents, particularly women and children, who previously spent hours travelling to fetch water.
The project serves about 650 people and enables residents to access water within the community, reducing the time spent on water collection from about one and a half hours to five minutes.
Mr Jürgen Heissel, the Austrian Ambassador to Ghana, speaking at a handing over ceremony, which also marked Austria National Day in Ghana said the project was one of the initiatives that, highlighted the friendship between the two countries and their shared commitment to improving community livelihoods.
He said the intervention formed part of efforts to support community development and improve living conditions in the North-East Region.
He noted that the decision to celebrate Austria’s National Day in the region, rather than in Accra as traditionally done, was deliberate and intended to highlight development initiatives making a difference in communities.
The Ambassador said the Austrian civil society organisation Brave Aurora had worked in the region for 18 years, evolving from a child protection initiative into a broader programme supporting livelihoods and revitalising local markets.
Mr Heissel noted that the organisation’s work demonstrated how sustained community-level interventions could contribute to resilience and stability.
The Ambassador said the water system was a practical example of cooperation between the Austrian Government, civil society, private companies and individual citizens to address local development needs.
He said the project had also received support through volunteer contributions and private donations.
The Ambassador noted that access to water was fundamental to human dignity, good health, and improved living conditions.
He explained that reducing the time children spent fetching water would give them more opportunities to attend school and concentrate on their education.
Mr Ibrahim Tia, the North- East Regional Minister expressed appreciation to the Austrian Government and its development partners, saying, the facility would improve access to water and contribute to better health, sanitation, education and general well-being.
The Ambassador noted that Austria’s decision to celebrate its National Day in Sawaba also recognised the contributions of civil society organisations and local development partners to improving livelihoods and strengthening resilience in the region.
The event reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to partnerships that translate into practical development benefits for communities.
He urged the chiefs and people of Sawaba to take ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance to serve present and future generations.
Chief of Sawaba, Naa Gbanadaana, said the project would ends a long worry.
“Today is a joyful and historic day for me and my people. Your support will improve the health and living conditions of our people, especially women and children,” he says.
He also thanked Brave Aurora for its continued support for education, child protection and skills training, “which is creating opportunities for our children and community members.”
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei
26 October 2026
Reporter: Albert Oppong-Ansah
Email: [email protected]