Water and WASH for 3 Health Centres, 5 Schools, and 7 Communities

About the Project

The project will be implemented in fifteen small communities in the Amansie Central, Adansi South and North, Obuasi Municipal, Bekwai Municipal, and Bosomefreho Districts of the Ashanti region of Ghana. This project will bring clean water to communities and health centres in these areas by March 2023. 

There is currently illegal mining happening in this area (called “galamsey”), which has led to pollution of much of the area’s water supply, especially streams and rivers. And, even though the communities have primary schools, many of them have unqualified teachers, as harsh conditions deter many qualified teachers from moving to this area – citing the inadequate basic amenities in the communities. Water is limited in both quality and quantity. However, this project will help to remedy that, constructing 15 deep wells and providing WASH training to all beneficiaries. Users will receive lessons on sanitation and hygiene, including lessons such as how to cover their water containers, simple ways of making water potable, such as by using filters and boiling water. DONA will also train mechanics to repair the wells, and Water Committees to manage and maintain each community’s well.

What do the Funds Support?

• Drilling 15 new deep boreholes.
• Eight (8) overhead holding tanks (three for health centres and five for schools).
• Piping and washing sinks for three health centres.
• Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for Water Committees, caretakers, and mechanics.
• Capacity-building for ten (10) WATSANs and five (5) school health coordinators.
• Capacity-building for fifteen (15) Facility Management Committees (caretakers).
• Capacity-building for local pump mechanics.
• WASH Training for staff at three health centres, five schools, and seven communities.
• Ongoing local monitoring and evaluation.

Why is this Project Important?

• In Ghana, more than five million people rely on surface water to meet their daily water needs, leaving them vulnerable to water-related illness and disease, such as malaria and typhoid.
• 22 million people in Ghana lack access to adequate sanitation services.
  • Without water and sanitation services, many frequently suffer from dehydration, malnutrition, and diarrhea.
• Ghana’s government believes it is the health centres’ responsibility to fund the construction of clean water sources connected to their buildings.
  • However, the majority of Ghanaian communities are small scale farmers, with little to no supplementary income, making financing these projects a nearly impossible feat.
• Without clean water, these health centres cannot serve pregnant women, leading to many more pregnancy-related health problems (such as miscarriages) in the area.
• These wells will service, not only the five health centres, but many surrounding communities.
• Illegal mining activities in the Ashanti region have led to widespread pollution of surface water (which many use as drinking water) with mercury. 

About the Area

Ghana is located in West Africa, along the Ivory Coast. Two thirds of the country is covered by savannah, and is mostly flat plains with very few rivers. This terrain makes it very difficult for many people in Ghana to access safe drinking water, and 22 million Ghanaians lack adequate sanitation services (such as a toilet or handwashing station). Without these basic services, people in Ghana frequently suffer from dehydration, malnutrition, and diarrhea (the leading cause of death in the developing world). 

About Our Partner, DONA

DONA is a non-governmental organization based in Kumasi, Ghana. The group started in 2000, and conducted environmental awareness programs regarding environmental issues in communities in the Ashanti Region. DONA also offers capacity-building programmes for NGOs, community-based cooperatives, and a host of individuals, on business management and on the development of biodiversity conservation, and utilization of request bases. They have proven their ability to execute water and WASH projects, and have established their capacity to take on more project work each year.

Every effort is made to designate your funds as requested; however, if the specified project has become fully funded or unforeseen circumstances delay its start, we may allocate your donation to another important project.