Residents of Damang in the Western Region are celebrating the completion and handover of a modern water supply system that is expected to provide thousands of people with reliable access to safe and clean drinking water.
The project, funded through a partnership between the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation and World Vision Ghana, marks the end of years of water supply challenges for the community. Homes, schools, health facilities and public spaces now have improved access to potable water, while local management structures have been established to ensure the system remains operational and sustainable for years to come.
The commissioning and handover ceremony brought together traditional authorities, community members, local government officials and representatives of the two partner organisations.
For the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, the project underscores its commitment to promoting sustainable development in communities within its operational areas by investing in initiatives that improve people’s quality of life.
World Vision Ghana, which implemented the project, played a central role in its design and execution, with a strong emphasis on improving the well-being of children and families. The improved access to clean water is expected to reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases, strengthen healthcare delivery and enable more children—particularly girls—to spend less time fetching water and more time in school.
The Damang Water Supply System features newly drilled and rehabilitated boreholes, a 100-cubic-metre storage reservoir, a solar-powered pumping system, an extensive water distribution network, strategically located standpipes, household water connections and dedicated supply lines to schools and healthcare facilities.
A major highlight of the project is its focus on long-term sustainability. Water and sanitation management committees have been established, community-based technicians trained, revenue collection systems introduced and water quality monitoring mechanisms put in place to enable residents to operate and maintain the facility independently.
Community leaders expressed appreciation to the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation and World Vision Ghana for delivering a project they believe will improve public health, restore dignity and create better economic opportunities for generations to come. They also pledged to safeguard and maintain the infrastructure to ensure its continued benefit to the community.
With the formal handover completed, responsibility for managing the water system now rests with locally established governance structures, while both partner organisations have pledged to provide technical support whenever necessary.
Beyond improving access to clean water, the Damang Water Supply System is expected to serve as a catalyst for better health outcomes, improved education, enhanced livelihoods and broader socio-economic development.
As many communities across Ghana continue to face challenges in accessing safe drinking water, the Damang project stands out as a practical example of how collaboration between the private sector, development partners and local communities can deliver lasting and meaningful change.