Accra: The Ministry of Works, Housing, and Water Resources has formalized a partnership with S.E.D.A Farminc Ghana Limited, a Czech firm, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for technical cooperation aimed at improving water exploration in Ghana. This initiative is set to address water supply challenges prevalent in rural and peri-urban areas by utilizing advanced technology to map groundwater resources.
According to Ghana News Agency, the cooperation will commence in the Northern Region, targeting cities and communities such as Tamale, Tumu, Wa, and Damongo in its initial phase. This collaboration is not only focused on water exploration but also on joint project development, capacity building, groundwater resource enhancement, and technology transfer.
Mr. Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, emphasized the significance of the MoU, highlighting its role in paving the way for more efficient and resilient water service delivery nationwide. Adjei acknowledged the numerous constraints facing the sector, including limited infrastructure, climate change impacts, inefficient systems, and financial shortcomings. He stressed the importance of partnerships like this one to tackle these challenges effectively.
Mr. Adjei also pointed out the under-explored and poorly mapped state of the country's groundwater potential, noting that this partnership aims to address these issues by undertaking scientific mapping of groundwater aquifers and enhancing the technical capacity of local hydrologists and engineers. The data from this exploration is expected to improve planning, drilling efficiency, and the protection of vital underground water resources.
Furthermore, the partnership aims to explore various financing avenues, such as concessional loans, donor support, climate funds, and private capital mobilization, to develop sustainable water infrastructure projects. Mr. Adjei expressed confidence in leveraging S.E.D.A Farminc Ghana Limited's technical and investment networks to attract external funding for impactful water initiatives.
Mr. Martin Habart, CEO and Co-Founder of the SEDA Africa Group, highlighted that this agreement builds on their previous work in the Eastern Region, where they established a water treatment plant. He outlined plans to establish a training center in Accra to transfer technology to Ghanaians and set up a technical taskforce to assist the Ministry and key agencies like the Ghana Water Company Limited.
Mr. Habart assured the Ministry of bringing top experts to Ghana to address the country's water challenges and to mobilize funding through investor and donor engagement. The signing ceremony was attended by the Czech Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Pavel Bilek, who led the SEDA Africa delegation.
