The Safe Water Network (SWN) has commissioned over $800,000 Asikuma Home Water Station to serve community members with clean and safe water.
The water station would provide over 3,000 residents with reliable safe water, including more than 400 households with direct piped connections fitted with Mobile-Money enabled prepaid meters.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Charles Nimako, Country Director, SWN, said all households were equipped with electronic prepaid meters and that by dialing a designated shortcode, residents could purchase water directly from their mobile money wallets.
He said all revenues retained within the community would cover operational costs such as staff wages, electricity, chlorination, and maintenance, and that reserves were also set aside for repairs, a model that had sustained operations for over 15 years.
Mr. Nimako said quarterly financial reports would be prepared and shared with the community through a newly formed water board to ensure transparency, detailing revenues, expenditures, and surpluses.
He said for this project, water was sourced from the Volta Lake, requiring the installation of a 5km underground HDP pipeline across farms and roads, adding that the project reflected the power of persistence, collaboration, and community partnership.
He said SWN had launched and now operated 112 water stations across more than 150 communities, reaching over 500,000 people.
“Of these, nearly 15,000 customers benefit from direct piped connections with mobile-money enabled prepaid meters, including schools, healthcare facilities, and small businesses,” he added.
Mr.Nimako said the vision was for healthy, thriving communities, each with its own safe water source, managed sustainably, owned proudly and operated by the people it served.
He added that this required partnership from government, traditional leaders, development partners, and most importantly, from community members.
Mr. Godwin Bobolee, the District Chief Executive, Asuogyaman District Assembly, urged the community members to use the water responsibly since significant resources were invested in treating and delivering safe and clean water to their homes through the benevolence of SWN.
He said the Government alone could not meet this need, therefore, with SWN supporting government to deliver such an essential service to their homes, it was important not to take it for granted.
Mr. Bobolee said they would continue to partner with SWN to address emerging issues and to ensure the expansion of the facility to other parts of the district.
He said this year alone, the Assembly would be constructing a minimum of 15 mechanised boreholes and water projects in selected second cycle institutions, Akwamufie and some selected communities.
Mr. Kurt Soderlund, the Founding CEO, SWN, called for a lasting partnership with SWN and the members of Asikuma.
“I wish for the community to care for the source of the water, which is Lake Volta, I wish for water to be available every day and affordable to the community and I wish for enough funds from the water sales to ensure its continued maintenance and operations.”
“I wish for everyone in Asikuma to drink safe water and have no disease, and most of all, I wish for the children to grow up healthy and happy with safe water,” he stressed.
From Edward Dankwah, Asikuma
GNA
