WaterAid Ghana, Guinness Ghana commission major water expansion projects in Nadowli and Nandom

WaterAid Ghana, in partnership with Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC, has launched two water expansion projects. These projects are located in the Upper West Region. They will produce over 203,997 cubic metres of water annually for Nadowli and Nandom.

This initiative is part of the Water for Life Project. It aims to improve water access for more than 80,000 residents in both towns. The commissioning involved the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) and the Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly. Interplast provided technical support for this project.

Nadowli Township is one of the fastest-growing towns in the region. However, it faces a severe water shortage. Of the 86,000 residents in the district, 6,201 live in Nadowli. They rely on a single 80-cubic-metre overhead tank that serves 530 households and 12 standpipes.

The current daily supply of just over 180 cubic metres is insufficient. This shortage forces authorities to ration water, causing discomfort for families, schools, and health facilities.

The new expansion project aims to change this situation. It includes infrastructure improvements to increase water production and distribution.

Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur is the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana. At the commissioning event, she emphasized how vital water access is for community development. She stated that children will no longer need to walk long distances for water before school. Households will find it easier to cook and bathe as well.

Yanyi-Akofur also highlighted improved access to water at healthcare facilities for infection prevention and control.

Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah is the Corporate Relations Director at Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC. She reaffirmed her company's commitment to sustainable development and community partnerships. Over five years, they have identified communities facing water challenges and provided clean drinking water along with sanitation education.

Thirteen similar projects have been launched nationwide with a focus on northern regions of Ghana. Owusu-Ankomah noted that these efforts also benefit communities supplying local raw materials like sorghum and maize.

She added that as Guinness Ghana celebrates its 65th anniversary, they aim to strengthen partnerships with communities for shared growth.

For Cornelius Ziekye at the Nadowli Sub-Health Centre, this project comes at an ideal time. He expressed his relief about having filled their reservoir: “I am so overwhelmed,” he said with a smile.

Abdul Salam Murtada manages Nadowli West Water Systems at CWSA. He mentioned that the new tank would meet current demand while allowing service expansion into upland areas.

This project showcases how public-private partnerships can address critical community needs effectively.