The Government of Denmark, through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), is undertaking a feasibility study with Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to explore the development of a drinking water plant at Aveyime of the North Tongu District in the Volta Region. Vibeke Sandholm Pedersen, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Danish Embassy has disclosed.
Once realised, the project has the potential to provide clean and safe drinking water to an estimated 1.2 million people in the Volta and Greater Accra regions, she projected.
According to her, the strategic sector cooperation between the two countries on water, which had been running since 2019, had been instrumental in assisting Ghana in establishing a more reliable and strong water sector by matching technical staff from Denmark and Ghana for knowledge exchange.
“Through this cooperation, GWCL and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly have worked together with the city of Arhus and the water utility company, Arhus Vand, to reduce non-revenue water levels, improved wastewater management and make the city of Tema climate resilient and green,” she reported.
Mrs Pedersen was speaking at a stakeholder’s engagement last Friday to observe this year’s World Water Day on the theme ‘Water for Peace’.
The day, set aside by the United Nations and observed on March 22, highlights the importance of fresh water and also used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
The success of the phase one of the cooperation, Mrs Pedersen posited had been evident and same had led to the up calling of activities to other geographical areas, and the expansion of the partnership with other organisations with similar interest.
Mrs Pedersen also announced that “Denmark and Ghana will construct the first ever leakage detection training field at the GWCL Institute at Weija. This training field will serve as a crucial step for GWCL in combating their national losses.”
Partnerships, she stressed, are instrumental in assisting Ghana to realise the Sustainable Development Goals and that Denmark strongly believes that by working together, “we can create the impact needed for a robust and sustainable water sector for Ghana.”
Welcoming the support, Madam Faustina Boachie, the Chief Manager of the Low Income Customer Support Department at the GWCL, described the partnership with the Danish Embassy as “exemplary and pivotal” in the company’s quest to reach many more people.
The partnership, Madam Boachie said would not only enhance capacity but would also empower the staff to deliver to full ability for a safe and uninterrupted water production.
To her, the collaboration for the “immensely impactful” Aveyime project is a beacon of hope for many, especially low income communities.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
