A borehole project has begun for the St Mary’s Anglican School at Ga Mashie in Accra, to help address the school’s perennial water shortage challenge.
The borehole project forms part of the Girl Power Project initiative launched by Manye Naa Amorkor Shika Futru 1, Asere Amartse We Manye, in collaboration with the schools management committee.
It aims to help resolve the challenges of poor sanitation, frequent illnesses and accidents as pupils fetched water outside the premises.
When completed, the project will provide a sustainable source of clean water to promote health, hygiene and academic success.
Briefing the Daily Graphic about the commencement of the project, the Headmistress of St Mary’s Anglican School, Rev. Patricia Esumani, said the lack of water had been both financially draining and a health threat to pupils.
“The lack of access to water while in school has posed challenges to the school. On many occasions, we have had to buy water at 400 cedis per tank, and it would not even last for a month.”
The situation has created a lot of inconvenience for both teachers and pupils and we have been praying for a more lasting solution,” she said.
She, therefore, described the borehole project as a great relief because it will help resolve those challenges.
“This project has come to ease all our problems, and we are profoundly grateful to the committee and patrons for this important intervention,” Rev. Esumani.
She appealed for more support from partners to improve the learning environment for pupils.
Community-led intervention
The SMC Chairperson, Naa Amorkor Shikafutru 1, Asere Amartse We Manye, explained that the borehole project, valued at about GH¢45,000, was funded through collective efforts by the committee and stakeholders.
The borehole drilling machine. Picture: CALEB VANDERPUYE
“Imagine students coming to school, using the toilet facility, eating, and they are expected to wash their hands, yet there is no water to support them.
It is quite worrying, so today we came in to make psure we put in place a borehole.
Work has already commenced, and we hope to complete it by the end of the week,” she said.
She further revealed that similar projects would be replicated at the Independence Avenue School and the Makola School, as part of a broader plan to tackle water and sanitation challenges facing basic schools in Accra.
