Bongo-dua: The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has inaugurated four mechanised boreholes for the chiefs and people of the Dua Electoral Area in the Bongo District. Each of the water systems is equipped with an overhead 10,000-litre polytank and standpipes, and has been provided to the Dua-Yikene and Dua-Nayiri sub-communities to alleviate the long-standing water crisis in the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, the intervention is part of the Commission's corporate social responsibility, established by the PURC Act, 2010 (Act 800), following a written appeal by Mr. William Amuna, an opinion leader of the Dua community, to resolve the decades-long water challenges. At a ceremony to hand over the water systems to the community, Mr. Seth Kponyo, the Upper East Regional Manager of the PURC, emphasized that in addition to regulating utilities, the Commission is mandated to support pressing community needs like access to potable water.
Mr. Kponyo highlighted that the PURC Act, 2010 (Act 800), provides a legal basis for funding pro-poor water programmes, focusing on regions where residents rely on streams, dams, and dugout wells for drinking water. He urged the district assembly, assembly members, chiefs, and opinion leaders to collaborate in maintaining the project to achieve its goal.
Mr. Joseph Abaah Akasake, the Bongo District Chief Executive, praised the PURC for the intervention, noting that it complements the district assembly's efforts to tackle water challenges. He elaborated on the high fluoride content in most water sources in the Bongo district and appealed to the PURC for more mechanised water systems and the redirection of treated water from the Vea Dam to the area.
Naba Agengimogre Akurugu, the Chief of Dua, applauded the opinion leader's initiative in securing the boreholes, stating that it would prevent women and children from having to trek long distances for water. Mr. Albert Akolbire Akolgo, the Assemblyman for the Dua Electoral Area, also praised the initiative and called for further support from the PURC and other organisations to improve access to potable water, pointing out that several densely populated areas still face acute water shortages.
