Christmas is just around the corner, and many are those who are finding it difficult getting the basic needs for the festivities. Many are those who are complaining that the economic hardship in our country is biting hard, yes I agree, it has been the most godawful of years. Many are the youth who are complaining of joblessness, and it is true; it is never the most pleasant of situations.
But the question I want to ask is whether there is hope for our dear nation. Before I give an answer let us look at a scenario. Very soon our hardworking farmers would be celebrated and awarded prizes. But have we thought of what they had to go through? The painful waiting between sowing and harvesting?
The story is also told of two civil servants: one chose to cut down his expenses, and saved towards the future. The other lived in affluence and luxury. In the end, the former educated his children well, built his own house and lived in comfort. On the other hand, the latter lived in squalor and abject poverty in the later stages of his life.
It is from these two analogies that I would want to answer the question as to whether this country has a future under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, and my answer is a gazillion number of YES. I have a tenfold stronger explanation.
In my previous write-ups, I enumerated some major fantastic achievements of President Mahama in the health, education and aviation sectors; from several new regional hospitals, many new poly-clinics, two new teaching hospitals, one brand new Millitary hospital in Kumasi, numerous new day Senior High Schools to two new International Airports. Not mentioning the game changer itself, the Atuabo Gas Plant, the expansion of Tema and Takoradi harbours, the ultra modern Kwame Nkrumah and Kasoa interchanges and many more others. These are unprecedented developmental projects in the history of our country that can never be overlooked.
But folks, that is not all. There is massive expansion work going on in the area of water supply. The expansion of the US$273 million Kpong water works which will supply 40 million gallons of water a day to areas including Adenta, Madina, Kwabenya, Ashongman; North, East and West Legon, Ashaley Botwe, Haatso, Asofan, Dome and many others. Also worth mentioning is the 16.5 million Euro Kpong Intake Rehabilitation Project to increase supply to Accra -Tema Metropolitan Area. Communities to benefit from the project include Dodowa, Ningo, Prampram and the Akuapem Ridge.
Of another significant importance is the installation of equipment at a cost of 56.5 million Euros for the production of 9 million gallons of water per day, this includes, the construction of four reservoirs at Adukrom, Dodowa, Atimpoku and Akorley as well as a 92km transmission pipelines. When completed, the project will improve water supply to almost 70 communities in both the Greater Accra and the Eastern Regions. And more than a quarter of a million people in these communities will have access to potable water when the project is completed. These include:
Michel Camp, Afienya, Kpone, Ayitepa, Kponguna, Omankope, Kodiabe,Doyumu, Agomeda, Adumanya, Menyum and Odese. Other areas are: Akorley, Abonse, Aperede, Adukrom, Awukugua, Dawu, Abiriw, Akropong Mamfe, Amanokrom, Tutu, Obosomase, Ahwerase, Aburi, Gyankrom, Peduase, Kitase, Berekuso, Frankadua, Apegusu, Mangoasi, New Senchi, Akrade, Domeabra, Lolonyo and Agomanya.
There are also dozens of other water projects at various stages of completion around the country which will add 30 million gallons of water a day to the existing stock. These are the Wa Water Project, the Nsawam Water Supply Project, the Kwahu Ridge, Konongo and Kumawu Water Supply Projects. Beneficiary communities include Wa Metropolitan Area, University for Development Studies Campus, Jamgoasi, Kog, Guo, Pase, Dorimon, Boro, Chaira, Siriyiri, Bamaho, Bole, Kolong and Kperisi.
Others include Medie, Ntoaso No. 1 and 2, Owuraku, Hebron, Adoagyiri, Abene, Abetifi, Asakraka, Aduamua, Bepong, Bokuruwa, Tafo, Mpraeso, Nkwatia, Nteso, Obo, Obomeng, Pepease, Kotosu, Asempanaye, Nkwakwa, Hweehwee, Akwasiho and Suminakese.
All these water projects cannot be acknowledged without mentioning additional works on the Kumasi Water Supply Project, the Asante Mampong Water Supply Project, the Akim Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Supply Project and the five towns (Anyinam, Kibi, Osenase, Apedwa and Kwabeng) Water Supply Project.
I think I am getting tired but before I end, let me also mention Damanko-Kpassa Water Supply Project which serves about 60,000 people in 13 communities in the Nkwanta North District of the Volta Region; the Four Constituencies Water Supply Project designed to serve 150 communities in Central Tongu, North Tongu, Adaklu, Anyigbe, Ho West and Ho East with a total population of over a quarter of a million.
Finally, the final batch of water projects I want to talk about is the COCOBOD Borehole Project, under which people living in Cocoa, Shea-nut and coffee growing areas are benefiting from access to potable water from 1,008 boreholes to serve over 300,000 people.
In fact, some of these projects make me tingle with enthusiasm and optimism, and I don’t think it is fair for President Mahama to be pilloried, vilified, demonized and insulted for non-performance by some people.
If President Mahama is reading this article which I believe he is, my message to him is that he should soldier on and be dauntless without stumbling. I want him to sing and meditate over the hymn below:
.
Courage, brother, do not stumble,
Though thy path be dark as night;
There’s a star to guide the humble:
Trust in God and do the right.
Let the road be rough and dreary
And it’s end far out of sight,
Foot it bravely, strong or weary,
Trust in God and do the right.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Cease from man, and look above thee:
Trust in God and do the right.
As the song writer, Norman Macleod, said, though the road be rough and dreary; though thy path be dark as night; though some will hate and slight you, there is always a star to guide the humble. Just cease from man, and look above thee: trust in God and do the right.
The projects outlined affirm that President Mahama is absolutely unique, quintessential and phenomenon. It will, therefore, be an irretrievable lost if we allow him to slip through our fingers. Our love for the young man from Bole must be unrequited. In certitude of our appreciation let’s help him to succeed.
