Residents of Asongone Bisi, a section of the Tindonsobligo community in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region, can now heave a sigh of relief after more than 15 years of struggling to access safe drinking water.
For over a decade, community members depended on an old hand-dug well constructed many years ago as their only source of water. The well, however, was unsafe for consumption due to algae build-up on its walls, and it often dried up during the long dry season, leaving residents distressed and forcing them to walk long distances in search of water.
That situation has now changed following the construction of a new hand pump borehole by Friends of Prosper, a philanthropic group. The facility was commissioned over the weekend at a brief ceremony attended by community members and opinion leaders.
Speaking at the event, a member of the group, David Akolbila, said the intervention was in line with the humanitarian vision of one of the group’s members, Prosper Ayinbila Awuni, whose desire is to give back to society and help improve living conditions in deprived communities.
“Prosper has always believed that every small act of kindness can make a big difference. This borehole is part of his efforts to support communities like Tindonsobligo that have been struggling for years without access to potable water,” Mr. Akolbila said.
He expressed optimism that the new borehole would bring lasting relief to residents and end their years of hardship.
The Assembly Member for the Tindonsobligo Electoral Area, Thomas Apaala, commended Friends of Prosper for the gesture. He recounted several appeals he had made to relevant authorities over the past six years for a water facility for the community, which did not yield results.
“I have written letters and made numerous appeals for support, but none were successful. So today, I can only say thank you to Prosper and his team for coming to the aid of my people,” Mr. Apaala said.
The new borehole in Tindonsobligo adds to another one recently completed by the group. On October 6, Friends of Prosper commissioned a similar borehole for residents of Yorogo Asorogobiisi, also within the Bolgatanga Municipality.
In addition to providing water, the group extended further support to a 22-year-old Senior High School graduate, Yakubu Naakida Tunteya, a resident of Tindonsobligo. Miss Naakida, who completed SHS in 2020, has been unable to further her education due to financial constraints, despite securing admission to tertiary institutions in past years.
After the borehole commissioning, members of the group presented a cash amount of GH¢3,000 to help her pay her admission fees, with a commitment to fully sponsor her education until completion.
An emotional Miss Naakida expressed deep gratitude to Friends of Prosper and Prosper Ayinbila Awuni for their timely intervention.
“I have always wanted to continue my education, but my family couldn’t afford it. I’m very thankful to Prosper and his team for giving me this opportunity,” she said.
Source: A1RadioOnline.com | 101.1MHz | Joshua Asaah | Tindonsobligo
