An estimated population of 800,000 people are expected to enjoy frequent and reliable water supply in their households from the Tamale Water Supply Project when completed.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Tuesday cut-the-sod for the construction of the project as part of his working visit to the northern region.
The project will expand the scope of water supply in the Tamale metropolitan area and its adjoining communities.
Government secured US$223 million credit facility from the UK Export Finance and the Deutsche Bank AG London Branch to execute the project.
President Akufo-Addo in an interview with North Star FM based in Tamale hosted by our regional correspondent, Mohammed Gadafi, said the project is by far the single biggest water sector investment ever in the five regions of the north and the second biggest in the history of Ghana.
He gave assurance that his government was determined and committed to realizing the Water for all agenda under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country by 2020.
The last intervention to expand the capacity of water supply in the area was in 2008 under the erstwhile John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration from 25,000 cubic meters to 40, 000 cubic meters per day.
However, due to the high population growth in the metropolis, the Ghana Water Company Limited has had to ration water supply to the various communities.
President Akufo-Addo explained that, this is because the current supply capacity is 9 million gallons per day against a demand of some 20 million gallons per day, resulting in a deficit of 11 million gallons daily.
According to him, the government in deciding on the Tamale Water Supply Project had two options to consider – either rehabilitate the existing water treatment plant or construct a new water supply system.
He indicated that, “after carefully examining the two options government decided on the construction of a new water treatment plant at Yapei, thereby, making available two water supply systems working concurrently to supply water to Tamale and its surrounding communities in order to guarantee the availability of portable drinking water in the metropolis”.
President Akufo-Addo said this option will be more reliable and sustainable in the long term because it will diversify the supply of water in the Tamale metropolis.
By building the new treatment plant which will rely on the White Volta at Yapei, the water supply capacity in Tamale will significantly increase to 29.7 million gallons per day which will also cover the Savelugu municipality, Tolon, Kumbungu and Nanton districts in the region.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated that his government will provide its social responsibility to the people.
He however urged the beneficiary communities to contribute their quota towards the sustainability of this service and help to protect the infrastructure so that it can serve its purpose and last long.
President Akufo-Addo also implored the people to help protect the country’s water bodies and abstain from activities such as galamsey, sand winning and farming along the water bodies as it will guarantee improved water supply in terms of quality, quantity and reliability.
