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
Kwaa-Paa, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana
Community Description
Kaa-Paa is a large village located next to Weremuso towards the regional capital (Sunyani). It is about a 35-minute drive to the district capital Sunyani, with a population of about 2,210 people. The main source of income is from agriculture and trading, mostly among women. In addition, young men and women serve as laborers at various mining sites.
The Brong-Ahafo Region is located in south Ghana. Brong-Ahafo is bordered to the north by the Black Volta River and to the east by the Lake Volta, and to the south by the Ashanti region, Eastern and Western regions, and to the west by the Ivory Coast southeastern border. Some of the languages spoken by the people are Twi, English, Ewe, Bono, and Hausa.
Because this location is a center of mining activity, it has associated problems, such as school dropout and teenage pregnancy. Due to economic hardships at home, a large number of children between the ages of 6 and 15 abandon their classrooms for gold mining, to either make a living or make a few Ghana cedis to support their parents.
The few children who are in school also work in illegal gold mining concessions after school to earn money to pay for their own education. They usually do not wear any protective gear and are exposed to all manner of bodily injury, especially to the eyes and feet.
Problem Addressed
The people of the village suffer from a lack of access to potable water. Their lands and water bodies have been largely destroyed as a result of illegal mining activities and the use of heavy chemicals on their land. Illegal mining in the area causes several environmental and health problems.
Several accidents have occurred, and in some cases, people have died from water-related issues. In April 2015, at least 16 people lost their lives as a result of consuming polluted water. This community now needs to transport water from nearby towns, and pay unaffordable prices.
Another serious impact is the health hazards as a result of pollution from gases, noise, and dust. Coal mines release methane which can pollute the air. Sulphuric acid is utilized in the mining operations, which drains into the water bodies, and adversely affects them.
The movements of rock in the case of surface mining impacts the land negatively. Craters are left in the areas where mining activities took place, destroying the landscape and lush vegetation in the process.
Deforestation is resulting in changes in the ecosystem which includes increasing the levels of carbon dioxide in the air.
The leakage of chemicals into the environment adversely affects the health of the local population.
Project Description
This project is to build a borehole to supply ample water for the people of Kwaa-Paa.
The borehole will reach a depth of about 50 meters. Water will be accessed by a hand pump. Above-ground improvements will include a concrete area, as well as a channel and soak pit for removal of excess runoff.
A contract will be awarded to a borehole construction firm with experience in the region.
Activities prior to implementation include cost analysis, location selection, geologic and topographic consultation, and preparation of design sketches.
The community will contribute a monthly fee per home toward the maintenance and repairs of the facility, as well the unskilled labor needed for project implementation.
Project Impact
2,210 people will benefit from the project.
Project Administration
The project will be implemented under the direction of Nana Kudjoe Kesse, Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer of H2O Africa Care. Nana previously completed four other borehole projects.
We are grateful to Solomon Amuzu, of Call to Nature Permaculture, who is providing additional assistance and oversight.
Monitoring and Maintenance
The community will charge small monthly fees to take care of repairs and other related work when needed. A caretaker will be assigned to perform the management function for the smooth running of the facility. Also, shade trees will be planted around the facility to provide some amount of shade for a cool environment.
H20 Africa Care team will do a monthly check on the facility to ensure its sustainability.
Project Funding
The funding for this project has been provided by an anonymous donor.
If you like this project, please make a general-purpose donation to Water Charity, so that we will have funds available to immediately start our next project in Ghana.
Conclusion of Kwaa-Paa Borehole Project – Ghana
This project has been completed under the direction of Nana Kudjoe Kesse, Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer of H2O Africa Care. To read about the start of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project, the 5th in the series to date, was designed to build a borehole to supply water for the people of Kwaa-Paa.
Nana reports:
This project was to build a borehole to supply ample water for the people of Kwaa-Paa in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.
The borehole location was chosen by the community leaders, the drilling company, H2O Africa and the water and sanitation team in the district, acting on behalf of the entire village. This site is publicly accessible.
Construction was done by Lee Young Borehole Drillers, a company located in the Brong Ahafo region, with substantial experience in the area.
As it is done in many Ghanaian localities, prayers were said after a suitable location was found, as suggested by the majority of the leading team. The compound of the community forestry demonstration site along the Kwaa-Paa Techiman high way was the place chosen for the project.
Before drilling, a hydro-geographical assessment using electrical measurements was used to find the depth of the underlying water aquifer.
The drilling company started its operation three days later, and in about two hours the water table had been hit at a depth of 54 meters. Then other attachments and connections were made, and a hand pump was installed.
A block wall was then created around the facility at a distance of 25 feet, as two courses of blocks were formed and cemented. The floor was also concreted, and a spill way created into a soak away chamber, sized 2 feet square, filled with small rocks. This will help prevent mosquito breeding, and also reduce the odor that might be produced from the stagnant water.
The metal parts of the pump were painted with anti-rust coating to prevent them from rusting when exposed to air and water. The cemented walls of the facility were also painted with an emulsion paint to provide protection and beautification.
As the work progressed, people passing by stopped to take a close look at this great facility, saying a lot of praises for such a great provision.
Since the facility is located near the forestry, H2O Africa and the community leaders suggested that full control of the facility needed to be in hands of the authority working at the center. This was fully accepted by them, and a woman was appointed to care for the resource. Monitoring, and any other necessary advice, will be provided by the water and sanitation committee in the district.
Four hours after completion, the unity committee chairman of the village (Mr. Yerenkye) came over with some opinion leaders and H2O Executive Director Nana Kudjoe Kesse for a final look and handing over.
To ensure the facility runs very well, the community agreed to make small monthly donations towards the repairs and maintenance of the resource.
A few comments from the community:
* We ask for Allah blessings your way to continue making this nice work.
* Why did you choose this community as you drove pass many villages in same situation like us?
* We will keep the place clean by washing and sweeping here always.
* On behalf of the community, the chairman presented a thank you note to Water Charity and H2O for this remarkable project.We extend our appreciation to Water Charity for supporting us in the implementation of this wonderful project.
We, in turn, extend our thanks to Nana for completing this important project.
