Water for the People: Transforming Lives of communities in Fanteakwa District

In the Fanteakwa Districts, some community members, especially those from the Abourso community, shared the same water source with animals. It was a stream called "Amanfo Nsu", which means "water for the people", but was this water really for the people? Was it clean and safe?

Patience, a community nurse in the Abourso community, remembers that it was very challenging. Because of the nature of her work, she usually had to get up very early in the morning to walk miles to fetch water and then serve at her workplace.

Children like Grace shared how difficult it was to fetch water. Even though they had a hand pump, she and her colleagues had to join a long queue to fetch water. This was a factor in their being late for school. Sometimes they had to walk home just to drink water and get back to class. 

In 2022, World Vision Ghana, with support from WV Korea and in collaboration with key implementing partners, constructed about 46 water systems and 15 latrines in the Fanteakwa North and South Districts.

Nurses are now happy in their workplace because their work is less tiring. Children say they now attend school on time and return home early because they have water in their schools and close to their homes.

To sustain these WASH interventions, WV has worked with the District Assembly to train over 32 mechanics in the districts to ensure the maintenance of the WASH facilities.

The water and sanitation management team has taken on the responsibility of putting in place measures to maintain the facilities. 

“World Vision Ghana has been involving us right from the beginning of the project so we are aware of the sustainable measures to put in place to maintain and sustain the facilities even after World Vision is no longer operating in the district. We will ensure their legacy continues” says Owusu Ansah, the District Director of the Ghana Health Service.