Wa, 14th December, 2010 – MTN Ghana Foundation today commissioned 20 boreholes in 20 communities to improve water supply and sanitation in the Upper West region.

The project which costs GHC 178,800.00 is targetted at benefitting the people living in the Wa East and Lawra districts. The boreholes form part of about eight (8) projects earmarked to be undertaken as part of the 3rd anniversary celebration of the MTN Ghana foundation.

The Upper West region is currently facing challenges of potable water supply and as a result residents depend on unsafe water bodies such as the rivers and dams for their water supply. The consequence is the high prevalence of trachoma and guinea worm cases, as well as other water borne related diseases such as diarrhea, bilharzias and typhoid in the region.

Mr. Robert Kuzoe, Executive Secretary of the MTN Ghana Foundation said “MTN is happy to support efforts to provide potable water to the people of the Upper West region as a step towards supporting the government in attaining the Millennium Development Goals”.

“The Foundation”, he said “has put in place measures to ensure that the boreholes are well maintained to fully serve the beneficiary communities. “We are also establishing twenty (20) water point maintenance committees in all the beneficiary communities to educate the people on the need for a behavioral change as far as good sanitary conditions are concerned”, he added.

This he believes will positively impact the wellbeing of the over 20,000 people living in those communities.

Some of the beneficiary communities include: Goziire-Baapari, Kogle, Daagangn, Tampelle, Bu-Pissing, Dikpe No. 2, Kuoyukuo-Kulagangn. Others include Tuma, Methow-Buo, Methow Yirpaala, Gbier, Dondomenteng, Kundugu, Kalahi, Jenkori-Deryiri.

Since the launch of the foundation, a number of health and education activities have been undertaken to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of people living in the communities in which MTN operates. Within this year, it has assisted the Kotokuom and Wassa Dunkwa health posts with several medical equipment and has recently commissioned the refurbishment of Kpedze health center in the Volta region.