Nestle Ghana Limited and its partners have handed over a mechanised solar water system to the chiefs and people of Amanhyia, a farming community in the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The facility, which is under the Ghana water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) project, was initiated in 2016 to support communities with safe water and sanitation facilities and will serve some 4000 residents in Amanhyia and its environs.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at Amanhyia, as part of activities to mark this year's World Water Day (WWD), Mr Georgios Badaro, Managing Director, Nestle Ghana Limited, said the gesture was part of the Company's contribution towards attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

He said the facility was the 68th water system by Nestle, serving over 119,543 residents in 64 communities in the Eastern and the Ashanti Regions.

Mr Badaro said, eight more boreholes were under construction and would soon be completed and handed over to the communities for use.

He said the partnership between Nestle and International Red Cross had also produced 23 sanitation facilities serving residents of the two regions.

Mr Badaro said Nestle was committed to its purpose of "unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come."

He urged the public to live by the theme for this year's World Water Day, "Valuing Water" to ensure sustainability of the resource.

Mr Samuel Kofi Addo, Secretary General, Ghana Red Cross Society, said access to safe and reliable water and sanitation provided the foundation for meaningful progress along humanitarian work to the development of communities given the impact of COVID-19.

He said the National Society would ensure easy access to water equitably enjoyed by all in project communities, especially for women, children, and people with disability.

Mr Addo said Ghana WASH phase II would focus on water point rehabilitation and construction, expansion and development of mechanised systems equipped with solar power systems and support through gravity distribution networks.

He said volunteers and vendors were trained to manage and ensure regular maintenance to ensure the sustainability of the facility.

Nana Akwasi Baffour II, Chief of Amanhyia, thanked Nestle Ghana, Red Cross Society and other partners for the interventions.

He said prior to the construction of the water system, the community relied mainly on an unsafe source of water, which was far from the community.