JAK Foundation Supports Kojo Ashong Community

The John Agyekum Kufour (JAK) Foundation has provided the Kojo Ashong community in the Ga West Municipality with a mechanized borehole, solar-powered lights and a labour ward facility. The projects, which were the first of its kind by the JAK Foundation, were entirely funded by ECOBANK, estimated at $100,000. Professor Bafour Agyemang Dua, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, said at the inauguration ceremony that, the Kojo Ashong community was chosen after a broadcast by TV3 Network, which exposed the lack of good drinking water for the community, leading to the outbreak of buruli ulcer. He gave the assurance that; the Foundation would continue to support sustainable projects to alleviate the plights of needy communities across the country. Mr Sam Atukwei Quaye, the Ga West Municipal Chief Executive, commended former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his Foundation for the support given to the community. He said the Ga West Municipality has just 27 per cent water coverage and the provision of the borehole was very timely. He said the Municipality would ensure continuous monitoring and supervision of the projects in order to serve its purpose. Mr Geroge Mensah-Asante, Executive Director of Domestic Banking at ECOBANK, said as a bank, which believed in environmental sustainability, it was very happy to sponsor the provision of the mechanized borehole which would be powered by solar power energy. He said the bank had teamed up with many agencies and organisations, including the United Nations to minimize the high impact of climate change. He said the bank would continue to support programmes and projects that would gear towards economic growth. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, said the provision of the mechanized borehole would enhance the quality of life of the residents, and drastically reduce the incidence of the many water-borne diseases that regularly afflict them due to the lack of safe drinking water. �As we provide you this light for your streets and your health centre, the use of solar technology, as a sustainable energy solution, will seek to improve the quality of your community, while contributing to the reduction in green house gas emissions which has been proved to cause climate change,� he said. He said the use of solar energy, both as renewable energy and efficiency measures; presents opportunities to reduce energy demand, offering savings from reduced electricity use and safer neighborhood. Mr Kufuor commended ECOBANK for their support and called on other civil society, Non-governmental and corporate organisations to emulate the kind gesture of ECOBANK, by providing sustainable development to the people. �The hope is that, the entire beneficiary community, including the chiefs, elders, women and children, will look after this project with responsibility and appreciation to better the quality of life of all on a sustained basis,� he said. According to the contractor of the project, 5,000 gallons of water would be available everyday from the mechanized borehole to serve the people and that; the provision of the solar energy would also ensure frequent and sustained power.