The Managing Director of the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL), Mr. Lionel Barre has advised the people of Chavene and Ellobankata both in the Ahanta Municipality of the Western Region to consider the two Water Projects the company has provided their own and maintain them.

He said the time government built infrastructure and maintained them for the communities had outlived its usefulness so beneficiary communities of government, Non-Governmental Organisations or philanthropists projects should take good care of them.

The Corporate Affairs Manager of GREL, Mr. Perry Acheampong was reading the Managing Director’s speech at the inauguration and handing over of two separate Water Projects undertaken by GREL at the cost of GH¢286, 100.00 at Chavene and Ellobankata, two farming communities. The Chavene Water Project cost GH¢93,500.00 while that of Ellobankata cost GH¢192,500.00.

He said GREL had been renowned through its many social intervention projects that it was championing in the 90 operational area communities in the Western, Central and Eastern regions of Ghana.

He said GREL believed it was essential to create and maintain a strong relationship with the stakeholders for improved livelihoods of residents in the operational areas by firmly holding on to their Sustainable Policy of Respect for Human Rights, Responsible Development of their Operations and Best Management Practices in line with National and International Laws Regulations and Conventions.

He said the water projects were in line with their SIFCA (GREL’s mother company) and GREL’s commitment to give meaning to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal Six (6) which talks of “Clean Water & Sanitation”.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ahanta West Municipality, Mr. John K. Agyare observed that what the two communities had got was an expression of true love from GREL because anybody or organisation that brought water to a particular group of people actually gave such people life.

He said government alone could not meet all the social needs of the communities so companies, NGOs and individuals should try to complement government’s efforts by offering projects for some communities.

The Chairman of (ACLANGO) Association of Chiefs on Whose Lands GREL Operates, Nana Kwesi Agyeman IX, told the beneficiary communities to form workable committees to take control of the water projects and see to it that the projects worked very well.

The Vice Chairman of ACLANGO, Awulae Attibrukusu II noted that GREL had brought life to the people of these two communities who before then had no access to potable water.

He said the Water Project would allow people to lay pipe lines into their homes in order to have better access to the water making the walking of women and children to the river side to fetch water a thing of the past.

FROM PETER GBAMBILA, CHAVENA AND ELLOBANKATA.