WaterAid Ghana, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)-focused organisation, has expanded safe water coverage to residents of the Bongo District in the Upper East Region.
The water supply expansion system includes the redevelopment and mechanisation of two boreholes in Bogrigo and Gorigo, suburbs of Bongo, to increase their yields and supply of potable water to many communities within Bongo Central.
The initiative further comprises construction of two pump houses, installation of one dedicated transformer for one of the boreholes, construction of four public standpipes and one institutional standpipe, and the laying of nine kilometres of transmission and distribution pipelines.
The mechanisation of the two boreholes is expected to increase the production of safe water from 20,000 litres to 116,000 litres daily, benefitting more communities within Bongo Central.
The expansion work, which cost more than GH₡2.55 million, was carried out by PumpTech Ltd, with funding from the Zochonis Charitable Trust and technical support from the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
The intervention forms part of WaterAid Ghana’s strategic plan to support government’s efforts to achieve universal access to potable water in its operational areas, particularly the Bongo District, due to the high fluoride content in the underground water in the area.
Speaking at a brief ceremony at Bogrigo to commission the facilities, Ms Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, emphasised the significance of access to safe water and the need for urgent action to achieve universal access to safe water at all levels.
She explained that while the recent expansion had added 150 cubic metres of water per day to Bongo town’s supply, the daily demand in Bongo Central alone stood at approximately 500 cubic metres.

“This means there’s still a shortfall of 350 cubic metres each day,” the Country Director lamented.
Ms Yanyi-Akofur appealed to the Minister for Works and Housing and Water Resources and the President of the Republic to act on the country’s Presidential Compact to provide water for all.
She stressed the need to explore alternative sources of water, such as surface water, which was less likely to be contaminated by fluoride.
“This requires huge investment that WaterAid alone cannot shoulder,” she emphasised. “But in partnership with our government, Ghana Water, CWSA, and other donors, we believe the people of Bongo deserve access to safe water every day.”
Mr Emmanuel Oppong, Acting Upper East Regional Director of CWSA, noted that many communities continued to face water challenges in the Bongo District due to high fluoride content in the underground water and called for partnerships to boost efforts.
Alhaji Ibrahim Habila, the Bongo District Coordinating Director, commended WaterAid Ghana for the gesture and partnership over the years, stressing that the intervention would significantly enhance access to safe water within the district.
While urging the communities to ensure the facilities were maintained, he assured residents of the commitment of the Bongo District Assembly to addressing the water challenges in the district.
Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, commended WaterAid Ghana for selecting the district for the intervention and urged the government and other development partners to collaborate with WaterAid Ghana to help resolve the fluoride challenges in the underground water in the district.