The residents of the Suwarinsa-daasa community in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region have significant concerns regarding the availability of potable water.
For their daily and economic activities, many women and children are forced to travel long distances in search of water, primarily from streams, rivers, ponds, wells, and other open water sources.
Concerning is the fact that pupils frequently lose instructional hours in search of water to bathe or relieve themselves, as some of them arrive late or do not attend school after walking long distances
To address this age-old problem, Temis Foundation a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has constructed a fresh hand pump borehole for the community members to lessen their suffering.
On June 2, 2023, the first phase of drilling began in the community. Residents of Suwarinsa-daasa were delighted to see pure drinking water emerge from the ground for the first time after SS drilling company Ltd. engineers conducted a drilling operation.
Before the drilling began, the CEO of Temis Foundation, Madam Ruth Awontemi Afoko, addressed the residents of Suwarinsadaasa and explained that the NGO was founded in 2018 with the mission of serving as a source of hope for the hopeless, vulnerable, and marginalized in communities across the country, particularly in Builsa traditional area.
She added that it warms her heart to observe the drilling of the borehole that will provide the community’s residents with clean drinking water, stating that the days when residents drank hazardous water from an exposed WELL will soon be a thing of the past.
“It is unacceptable for young children, in particular, to walk long distances to fetch water or drink water from unsanitary sources,” she said, explaining that water is a basic necessity of life and that it must be provided to rural residents in order for them to live quality lives.
Madam Afoko urged the residents of Suwarinsa-daasa to put measures in place to ensure that the borehole remains in good condition as anticipated after its construction and handover to the community.
Assemblyman for Suwarinsa electoral area, Hon. Samuel Abiayega, thanked Temis Foundation for the borehole and emphasized that the hand pump borehole being constructed will go a long way toward resolving the long-standing lack of access to safe drinking water in Suwarinsadaasa, a portion of his electoral area.
To expedite Suwarinsadaasa’s development agenda, the assemblyman made a prompt appeal to all interested parties to assist in bringing electricity to the community.
The Engineer of SS Drilling Company Ltd, contracted by Temis Foundation for the drilling of the borehole, Mr Saban Osman indicated that the first phase of the drilling has been done saying, in a few days to come the building of the borehole concrete platform and fixing of the pump would be completed and handed over to the community. It is costing Temis Foundation Gh¢30,000.00 to drill the hand pump borehole for the community according to Mr Saban Osman the Engineer in charge.
Women in the beneficiary community could not hide their joy and excitement as they sang traditional songs and danced to express their gratitude to Temis Foundation for the gesture to them.
