Gonte Borehole Project – Ghana

This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION. 

This project has been completed.  To read about the conclusion, CLICK HERE.

Location
Gonte, Akuapim South, Eastern Region, Ghana

Community Description
Gonte is a small village located in the Akuapim South district on a mountainous space in the Eastern Region. The population is aged, as the youth leave the community due to lack of jobs.

The people live in very simple houses made from mud, straw and a zinc roof.  They are mostly peasant farmers who grow for the needs of their families and sell any remainder on the market. Some of the crops they grow are cassava, plantain, bananas, cocoyam, papaya, pineapple, citrus, and vegetables. They enjoy local dishes such as banku, fufu, ampesi, konkonte, rice, Erto, dokono, omo tuo and many others.

Since the village is not near a town or city, people lack many social amenities. The only available facility that can be seen in the village is a public basic school that provides education to the people. Since the school provides only up to grade 9, students who pass their basic education must leave the village to further their studies in the cities.

The villagers are of the Christian faith, but with no church buildings, they simply gather under trees to worship. They also use classrooms for worship during bad weather conditions when school is over.

Problem Addressed
Gonte village was provided with a hand-dug borehole many years ago. But, due to the shallowness of this resource, the water dries up when it is used frequently, and also, during the hot dry season.

Sometimes the well must be left to sit for a few days for the water table to rise before water can be fetched from it again. This makes it very difficult for the villagers to get access to clean potable water for their daily needs.

Project Description
This project is to provide the village with a second borehole at a separate location that will provide for the water needs of the people

The borehole will be dug deep into the ground to a depth of about 60 – 75 meters. Once the drilling is done pressure pipes will be immersed into the drilled hole with all fittings attached. Above-ground works will include the laying of concrete blocks, 2ft high.  Concrete will be applied to the platform and the walls. The platform will be sloped to enable excess water to spill away into a soak pit, measuring 2 ft square and 5 ft deep, filled with rocks. This will prevent the water from becoming stagnant and breeding mosquitoes.

A hand pump will then be installed. All metal parts of the pump will be painted with anti-rust oil paint. The concrete walls will also be painted with emulsion paint for beautification.

Project Impact
This project will impact more than 180 people.

Project Administration
The project will be implemented under the direction of Nana Kudjoe Kesse, Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer of H2O Africa Care, with assistance and oversight from Solomon Amuzu, of Call to Nature Permaculture.

Monitoring and Maintenance
Once the project is completed it will be handed over to the village authority to take full control over it.

A team from the village will be appointed to run the facility.  Small dues will be collected monthly to fix and maintain the facility when needed.

The H2O Africa team will visit the facility occasionally to ensure it is being properly cared for.

Project Funding
This project has been paid for through the generosity of an anonymous donor.  If you would like to see more great projects such as this one, please make a general donation to Water Charity.