Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah has launched the Kumasi Sanitation and Water Project, which seeks to strengthen environmental sanitation management and water supply in the city and its environs.
The $125m World Bank-assisted project comprises four components and includes, increasing access to sanitation services in low income areas and supporting the expansion of the water distribution network.
This is expected to provide pipe-borne water to an estimated 150,000 people living in Kumasi, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Old Tafo, Suame, Kwadaso, Ejisu and Asokore-Mampong. Another key component of the project is to support the provision of 42,000 household toilets and 150 school healthcare sanitation facilities for the beneficiary areas.
Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah said the government would not relent in its efforts to invest in programmes and projects tailored to ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Osei Assibey-Antwi, said the intervention will increase access to improved water supply and provide household latrines to the low-income urban communities in the metropolis. A representative of the Country Director of the World Bank, Engineer Herald Esseku said the Bank is ready to support the government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The programme was chaired by Apagyahene, Oheneba Owusu Afriyie representing Asantehene and attended by other dignitaries including the Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew OpokuPrempeh.