By Benjamin Makafui Attipoe, Agave-Dzebetato
Residents of Agave-Dzebetato in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region are expected to have improved access to potable water following the provision or donation of a 10,000-litre water storage facility by the Community Focus Foundation (CFF) Ghana in collaboration with the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC) and the South Tongu District Assembly (STDA).
The facility, comprising two 5,000-litre polytanks, was funded by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, Esq., to help address the community’s longstanding water storage challenges.
The project includes a cemented platform for the tanks and their connection to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) pipeline, which supplies water to the community only once every two to three weeksand sometime up to one month.
Agave-Dzebetato, which has a population of approximately 550, is among several communities in the Agave Traditional Area that have endured acute water shortages for years, forcing residents to depend on streams and the Volta River for their daily needs.
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The situation has compelled residents to share water sources with animals, particularly cattle, raising concerns about the safety and quality of water used for drinking, cooking, bathing and other domestic activities.
Speaking at the commissioning of the facility, the Executive Director of CFF, Mr. Richard Kasu, said the Foundation was moved to intervene after coming across a publication highlighting the community’s difficult water situation. He said the organisation subsequently approached some individuals and institutions for assistance, leading to the provision of the facility. “Water is life, yet for many communities like Agave-Dzebetato, access to safe and clean drinking water has remained a daily struggle,” he noted.
Mr. Kasu described the intervention as more than a water storage project, saying it represented improved health, dignity and hope for residents, particularly women and children. He explained that CFF, established in 2013, was an advocacy and research organisation promoting good governance in water resource management, electoral reforms, education and health.
The CFF Executive Director expressed appreciation to Mr. Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, whom he identified as the principal sponsor, as well as the VRCC, STDA, traditional authorities and residents for their support and co-operation during the implementation of the project.
Mr. Kasu urged the community to protect, maintain and manage the facility responsibly to ensure its sustainability. He reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to working with communities in other areas, including education, health and community empowerment to improve their lot.
The Assembly Member for the Dzebetato Electoral Area, Hon. Peter Doe Newton, described the intervention as a major relief for residents who had struggled with water shortages for more than 20 years. According to him, the irregular supply of water had disrupted economic activities and placed considerable burdens on women, mothers and schoolchildren for several years. The Assembly Member noted that residents were sometimes compelled to buy water from Sogakope and other communities, while others resorted to using water from streams and the Volta River for their domestic needs. He said the practice exposed residents to potential health risks, including skin infections and other water-related diseases.
Hon. Newton expressed gratitude to CFF and its partners for responding to the community’s plight, adding that the new storage facility would help residents store water whenever it became available through the GWCL pipeline. He assured the project sponsors that the community would maintain the facility to ensure that it continued to serve residents for several years to come.
The Chiefs and Elders of Agave-Dzebetato described the support as a lifeline for the community after years of hardship. Speaking on behalf of the community, Zikpuitor Stephen Worlakatey noted that the acute water storage plight of the residents of the community has been a big issue for the community and its members over the years, saying they can now hieve a sigh of great relief for such an intervention.
The intervention is expected to ease the burden of water shortages by enabling residents to store larger quantities of water during periods of supply, although the community will continue to depend on the GWCL pipeline for replenishment until the expansion works on the Agordome Water Treatment Plant is sompleted.
The project highlights the importance of community partnerships and targeted support in addressing basic social needs, particularly in rural communities where access to reliable water supply remains a big challenge.
