By Augustus Acquaye.
Water, they say, is life but not all water gives life. For many, especially in rural Ghana, having access to potable water is a privilege and not a right, as the case ought to be. Such is the fate of the people of Akyem Dokyi in the Kwaebibirem Municipality of the Eastern Region until the provision of a borehole for the area by the Rotary Club of Tesano, in Accra.
Akyem Dokyi is a predominantly farming community in the Kwaebibirem Municipality of the Eastern region. They mostly grow crops like cocoa, plantain and banana. The main stream in the community, the Adensu has for more than 1 year been reducing in volumes after a Mining Company BSD came to prospect for gold in the stream.
President of the Rotary Club of Tesano in Accra, Gifty Glime told the Chiefs and People at the handing over of the ₵ 34 thousand worth of a borehole that, taking cognizance of the high iron levels in the water, an iron treatment plant has been attached to it. She said the club strives to help communities meet the SDG targets especially in getting access to clean water and sanitation.
She said the project is expected to benefit more than 700 people from the town and its neighbouring communities. Madam Glime added that the club partnered with a sister club in the US as well as the United States Agency for International Development to make the project come to fruition. The Gyasehene of Akyem Dokyi, Nana Bosompim Antwi Bosiako was very appreciative of the gesture done by the Community. He said even though experts had raised concerns about their consumption of the Adensuo stream, there was little they could do as they were not financially capable of drilling a borehole. He pledged to ensure that the facility is put to good use.
A Sanitation Management Committee has been constituted in the town and its members trained in managing and repairing minor faults that can occur while using the borehole.
