Govt to fund Tamale water project locally after €277m facility delay

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will independently finance a major water supply project for Tamale, following setbacks with an earlier external funding arrangement.

Speaking in Tamale as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Northern Region on Saturday, April 18, the President said a previously approved €277 million facility for the Tamale and Damongo water systems could not proceed due to Ghana’s debt challenges, which stalled access to the funds.

He explained that the government will now mobilise the equivalent amount locally to execute the project and address longstanding water supply challenges in the area.

According to him, the new system is expected to significantly boost daily water production, while interim measures are also being implemented.

“When we came, we met. Parliament had approved a €277 million facility for the Tamale water and the Damango water. Unfortunately, because the past governments defaulted on the debt payments, we declared that we couldn’t pay our debts.

“If you don’t come pay your debt, do they give you a new loan? So the EU drew back the loan, and they said they are waiting for the debt restructuring to happen and all that. We don’t see any sign on the wall that it will come soon. So I’ve directed the Minister of Finance [Dr. Ato Forson] that we will find our own €277 million in cedis, and we will do the water system ourselves. I want to assure the people of Tamale. I’m a citizen of Tamale. If I don’t do this water, nobody will come and do it,” he said.

Source: citinewsroom.com