Solar-powered water project puts smiles on the faces of beneficiaries

Residents of Aperekukrom, Buffuorkrom, Pepease, and Anwerese in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region could not hide their joy when Forsports Foundation inaugurated a new solar-powered water-well facility to provide them clean and reliable water.

The foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation in collaboration with the Cologne Association of Migrant Organizations (KVMO) e.V., Germany, and W.P. Schmitz-Foundation, Düsseldorf, Germany constructed the facility.

It was funded by the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Berlin, Germany and according to the foundation, the facility was the third water-well project put up by the partners.

The facility, expected to serve hundreds of households with fresh, clean drinking water and thereby reducing the time spent fetching water and improving overall community health and relieving the burden
of children and women who walk distances to fetch water.

In a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration ceremony held at Aperekukrom, Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister stressed the government’s commitment to supporting sustainable water projects.

He said: “Access to clean water is a basic human right. Therefore, projects like this not only improve health outcomes but also empower communities, especially women and children, who bear the brunt of
water scarcity”.

Mr Akwaboah commended the foundation and its partners for the gesture, and called on other NGOs to emulate and help tackle the needs of the local communities.

Madam Millicent Yeboah Amankwah, the Member of Parliament for Sunyani West (MP) in a speech read on her behalf, also expressed her gratitude to the cooperation partners.

She said “This well is a testament to what can be achieved when local communities and international partners work hand in hand. It is a lasting legacy for the people of Sunyani West”.

 Mr Kwame Boateng, the Chairman of the Aperekukrom/Buffuorkrom Local Council, also thanked the donors for the gesture.

 He said: “For years, fetching water has been a daily struggle for our women and children. This will change lives and allow our people to focus on education, farming, and other productive activities”.

Dr. Eugene Litvinov, a representative of the KVMO e.V., shared his excitement about contributing to another solar-powered borehole in the Bono Region.

“We are delighted to provide this well for Aperekukrom, Buffuorkrom, Pepease, and Anwerese, following our successful projects in Tanoano, Antwikrom, and surrounding villages in Sunyani Municipality”, he
stated.

He commended Forsports Foundation and its founder, Mr Christopher Forsythe for the collaboration and expressed the hope that the partnership would be strengthened more and more towards improving
access to clean, sustainable water in the region.

By Dennis Peprah