Two communities in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality of the Ashanti Region are making a fresh start to life with the acquisition of potable water from boreholes commissioned by Voltic (GH) Limited, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.
The Nkawie and Gyankobaa, which are communities known mainly for the production of food crops such as maize, plantain, yam, okro and cassava, have been struggling with access to potable water for many years.
The Nkawie community, with an estimated population of 10,000 in an area rich in bauxite, suffered from water scarcity due to a limited supply. The installation of a borehole able to provide 20,000 litres of safe, potable water a day has ensured reliable and convenient access to water.
Chief of Nkawie, Payin Nana Kwabena Nketia Marfo V, in his address, said: “I am very grateful to Voltic for this borehole because from today, the people of this community will gain access to clean water. I will personally also see to the preservation of this precious resource for the benefit of future generations”.
Voltic Managing Director, Flora Jika, said the Coca-Cola Foundation had enabled the provision of safe water to the communities in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal six (SDG-6), to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
“Reliable access to good, safe water is essential to life, nature and the health of our communities. Across the world, approximately 2.1 billion people live in potentially water-scarce areas. Globally, over 80 percent of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. By 2050, the global water demand will have increased by 30 percent.
“So, as the first ingredient in most of our beverages, safe, clean water is also critical to the long-term success of our business. We take our water stewardship responsibilities very seriously,” Jika said.
She added that CCBA, together with the Coca-Cola Company, are leaders in using water responsibly in operations and giving it back.
“We continue to manage water resources through country projects that reduce water use in our operations, protect local water resources, and provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in need,” she emphasised.
Also in attendance at the handover ceremony was Nana Kontor Boakye Kyerewaa II, Queen Mother of the community.
In Gyankobaa, the community grows okra, garden eggs and maize, and was reliant on streams and rivers for water, which was insufficient for their needs. The borehole commissioned by Voltic will ensure the population of about 5,000 people will have secure access to safe water.
Chief of Gyankobaa, Obofuo Atwimakwaa Boakye Darkwah II, said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Voltic for their immense support to this community. For years, our people have relied on streams for water that breed diseases but from today, we will no longer fall prey to such diseases”.
