Three communities in Obuasi are the latest to benefit from the community water systems initiative introduced by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine.
After serving the Creeki, Kwabrafosu, Bidieso and Ntosua communities with clean and potable drinking water in 2023, the Obuasi Mine has once again handed over 3 water systems with 5 distribution points to Diawuoso, Sanso and Kokoteasua communities. This is to resolve the sanitation and hygiene challenges that have been heightened by limited access to clean water in the communities.
To complement this, the company has decided to rehabilitate 5 existing wells in the communities. The community water systems project has come as a huge relief to the communities who hitherto had to grapple with access to clean and potable drinking water.
According to Nana Kwaku Yarfi, the Odikro of Diawuoso in the Obuasi East Municipality, residents had to travel long distances to get access to safe drinking water .
He was optimistic that the water system in the community would improve sanitation and save residents the cost of buying sachet water.
He commended the Obuasi Mine for their commitment towards improving the welfare of members of their host communities. He charged his people to remain resolute behind the Mine, emphasizing that it is only when the Mine has the peace of mind to operate that it can extend support and development to the communities.
The event coincided with the celebration of World Water Day under the adopted theme ” Preserving Community Water Resources for Future Generations”.
The Community Relations Manager of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine Edmund Oduro Agyei said the Mine recognizes the struggles some communities go through with limited access to safe drinking water despite efforts by government and other stakeholders to improve the situation.
Costing GHS 3,693,640, the community water systems, he averred, represented hope, progress, and a reminder that investing in water infrastructure is an investment in the health and vitality of the communities.
” The water projects represent one of the several initiatives under our 10-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan, which has among its outcomes, to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in the communities in which we operate”, Mr. Agyei added.
The Community Relations Manager bemoaned the level of destruction of the Jimi river by illegal mining activities. He said the Jimi River, which serves as the source of water supply for most communities in Obuasi and the AGA Health Foundation, has now been polluted, affecting the supply of quality and clean drinking water.
Residents of the Diawuoso community could not hide their excitement after waiting several years to get access to clean and safe drinking water. Georgina Asante, a trader, said, ” now commuting long distances to fetch water has become a thing of the past.”
Meanwhile, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine is set to commence the construction of community water systems at Ewiase, New Nsuta Auntie Bee, and Sampsonkrom communities.
This is included in their plan for 2025.