For over a decade, nearly 6,000 residents of Kalbeo in the Bolgatanga Municipality of Ghana’s Upper East Region, mostly women and children, struggled daily to access potable water, relying on only five functioning boreholes. The crisis was most severe during the dry season, forcing residents to trek long distances to neighboring communities in search of safe drinking water.
In the rainy season, many resorted to harvesting rainwater or using unsafe stream water, often exposing themselves to waterborne diseases. This long-standing struggle came to a hopeful end when Happy Man Foundation, the social responsibility arm of Charger Limited, commissioned a newly constructed borehole in Kalbeo-Avolebisi.
During the event, an elderly woman in her 60s, Akonzeriba Abo-oh, emotionally described how the borehole has become a lifeline. “This borehole has come to save me,” she said. “I am the only one in my household and could not walk long distances to fetch water anymore.”
A schoolgirl also shared her joy, noting that she often arrived at school late because of time spent searching for water. “With this borehole, I will now be punctual,” she said with a bright smile.
Assembly Member for the Kalbeo Electoral Area, Sonny Ayariga, praised the foundation, saying the intervention came at the right time. “This ends years of suffering. We thank the CEO and the team for remembering our community.”
Godwin Akapire, a representative of the Chief of Kalbeo, also extended appreciation, urging the foundation to consider more support for other development needs in the area.
Speaking on behalf of Happy Man Foundation, Public Relations Officer, Alex Atanga, emphasized the broader purpose of the project. “This isn’t just about water. It’s about dignity, health, and opportunity. Access to clean water aligns with SDG 6 and is a step toward closing development gaps in underserved communities.”
Mr. Atanga stressed the importance of sustainability, urging the community members to take ownership and maintain the facility. “When children don’t miss school because of water, they learn. When families avoid preventable illnesses, they grow stronger. That is the impact we seek, one project, one community at a time.”
The Kalbeo borehole stands not only as a source of water but as a symbol of hope, resilience, and shared responsibility.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Kalbeo
