Pierre Laporte, World Bank’s Country Director for Ghana, praised the Ghanaian government’s dedication to introducing simplified sewerage systems in the nation’s low-income urban communities.
During his tour of the Ashaiman Simplified Sewerage Facility and Treatment Plant, Laporte highlighted the government’s initiative in offering toilet facilities for institutions and households. He also noted the expansion of piped water connections to underserved households, marking a significant step in addressing infrastructure deficits in the sanitation and water resources sectors.
The Ashaiman facility is one of the numerous projects the World Bank has supported across sectors, including education, infrastructure, and water management in Ghana over the years. Laporte, after his visit, voiced his satisfaction with the project, noting its pivotal role in aiding underserved regions and the positive impact on impoverished communities.
George Asiedu, Project Coordinator of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) sanitation project, remarked that Laporte’s endorsement underscores the project’s success and paves the way for potential collaborations between Ghana and the World Bank on future ventures.
Discussing the management model of the proposed facility, Asiedu conveyed the government’s plan to cover the investment costs. Meanwhile, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, in conjunction with a chosen private operator, will manage the facility’s day-to-day operations.
According to a report by Graphic Online, beneficiary households will receive monthly invoices, and the collected funds will cater to operational expenses and the replacement of the plant’s aging components.ts.
Initiated in 2015 with World Bank support, this project aims to enhance sanitation, water supply, and environmental sanitation services across two metropolitan areas and 22 assemblies in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi. The project expanded four significant drainage systems to mitigate Accra’s flooding issues and bolstered the skills of thousands of government and civil society personnel and various institutions.
Moreover, the project pioneered the development of two simplified sewerage systems in Ashaiman New Town and Bankuman in Tema. The overarching mission of the GAMA/GKMA Sanitation and Water Project is to broaden access to enhanced sanitation in Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi, focusing on urban communities with limited income, and ensure sustainable treated effluent disposal to curb sanitation-related public health concerns.
