Projects : East Gonja
Drilling for groundwater throughout the Northern Region of Ghana has proven unsuccessful. Other than open wells, which go dry in the dry season (December - May), none of the villages has a source of drinking water other than the dams. (NB: A dam in Ghana is more of a reservoir than a dam in the classic sense. It is a large excavated pit at a low point near the communities, which collects water during the rainy season for use during the dry season.) Based on numerous unsuccessful drilling efforts such dams are likely to remain the only sources of water for around 6 months of the year.
Above: Gburimani Dam, Tolon-Kumbungu District, Northern Region
The proposed solar powered water delivery systems will improve the delivery system of the water to the people and hopefully stop people from entering the Guinea-worm infected catchment basin to collect their water. Ghana was the most Guinea worm-endemic country in the world in 2004. Gburimani was the second most endemic village in Ghana in 2004 with 210 cases. The village of Kpalbe reported 92 cases in 2004, making it the eighth most endemic village in the country. 4 additional cases were reported in the surrounding communities. To stop the Guinea worm cycle in Ghana and in the world it is imperative that the water in the Kpalbe and Gburimani dams be filtered.
Above: Women fetching water from Kpalbe Dam, East Gonja District, Northern Region
Detailed project information for East Gonja District
Assistance is needed to improve 2 dams located 1-2 kilometers from the villages each serves. Numerous drilling attempts to find water in the area, as an alternative source to the dams, resulted in dry holes. In 2005 two holes were drilled in and around Gburimani, one 85 meters deep and the other 67 meters deep, but both were unsuccessful. Drilling for groundwater has proven difficult throughout the entire area. Hence the dams are the only source of water available to the communities. This grant requests the funds to improve the quality of the water through filtration, bringing the sources closer to the people they serve and automating the delivery process through a solar powered pumping system.
Both dams were originally created by an organization called Village Water Reservoirs with funding from the Catholic Church and the Dutch Government. Village Water remains in existence today, and is located in Tamale, about 50 kilometers from the dams. Village Water has the drawings and the know how to accomplish some of the tasks associated with the upgrades (such as knowledge of the water flow necessary for cleaning the current system and the creation of the filtering system). They may be called on to assist with the preparation process.
As part of the process, consumers will be asked to begin to pay for the water they use. The amount is expected to be 100 Cedis (or about $.01) for each bucket taken. The final amount will be decided by the community and will be used for maintenance of the existing system once in place. The Gburimani community has already been approached concerning this and has agreed to begin paying once the upgrade is in place. Kpalbe dam communities will be approached shortly.
Control of disease will be the primary goal of the effort. In addition to reducing dysentery and controlling against cholera, Guinea worm is highly endemic in this area of these dams. In 2004 it is estimated that these dams were responsible for 277 and 96 cases respectively. The table below lists the villages to be served, the population of those villages and the number of Guinea Worm cases recorded in 2004.
| Village | Population | Households | 2004 GW Case Count |
| Gburimani Dam | |||
| Gburimani | 2400 | 500 | 210 |
| Tibogu | 301 | 168 | 67 |
| Total | 2701 | 668 | 277 |
| Kpalbe Dam | |||
| Kpalbe | 2206 | 367 | 92 |
| Jinloo Yepala | 535 | 53 | 3 |
| Kushini | 321 | 30 | 0 |
| Jarayili | 193 | 18 | 1 |
| Total | 3255 | 285 | 96 |
The process of meeting with these communities has already begun. Local District and Guinea worm personnel meet with all communities on a regular basis to discuss Guinea worm interventions. These other interventions include filter distribution, treating of cases, chemical treatments of the dam water with the chemical Abate (when possible) and village education. The discussion on improving the water system has already begun as part of these intervention meetings. These meetings will continue, and once funds have been made available, will increasingly discuss the water intervention.
Learn more about organizations who have partnered with WaterPlus for this project on our Partners page.
Further project information is available by contacting Ron Cowan at rotaryron@aol.com.