WATER FOR ASUOYEBOAH SSNIT FLATS (PAGE 29, SEPT 15, 2010)

AUTHORITIES of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) have inaugurated a 380,000 gallon mechanised borehole project at the SSNIT flats at Asuoyeboah in Kumasi to ease the acute water problem that had engulfed the area for the past six years.
Estimated at GH¢ 85,000, and initiated by SSNIT, in collaboration with Geo Group limited, the project which was completed in October 2009, was formerly inaugurated by the Director General of SSNIT, Dr Frank Odoom, on Thursday, August 5, 2010.
It is expected to supply potable water to 554 households at the Asuoyeboah SSNIT flats.
Addressing a cross-section of residents who attended the inaugural ceremony, Dr Odoom said the water problem of residents had been a matter of great concern to the management of SSNIT.
He said management agreed to support the construction of a mechanised borehole as part of its corporate social responsibility “ in finding a solution to the perennial water problem”.
He pointed out that the project formed part of the condominium concept designed to cede off the management of the estate to landlords and residents .
Explaining, he said “ the inauguration of this borehole is part of SSNIT’s contribution to equipping you to migrate to the condominium level, expecting that you will start some exploratory plan of action for accelerating this idea”.
He pointed out that the condominium concept took cognisance of “residents to take up responsibility of the entire estate, the only way out to take care of the high maintenance cost of the flats incurred by the Trust”.
Explaining further, he said “ the individual is directly in charge of internal works – internal fixtures, payment of insurance, property rates, ground rent which also include works on the main frame- superstructure of the whole block of flats”
He, therefore, challenged residents to develop the culture of maintenance to enhance effective operation of the borehole’
“The maintenance culture must be maintained to keep this facility operational;” he advised, adding, “WE are hopeful that you will not disappoint SSNIT and posterity and your performance in maintaining this borehole in the coming years.
Earlier, the Area manager of SSNIT, Mr Enoch Acheampong, said their desire was to promote the interest of communities to enhance their development.
He pointed out that water supply had been a hectic problem since the construction of the Asuoyeboah flats, explaining that “Ghana Water Company was initially able to supply water twice weekly, but the situation deteriorated from 2004 due to the increasing number of communities along the stretch from the Owabi dam site to the Estate”.
“Matters got worse when the only pumping machine serving the Estate broke down in June 2009”, he said, adding that “ knowing the lack of access of safe water could lead to negative consequences on health and socio-economic well-being of members, SSNIT, in collaboration with Geo Group Limited, initiated the project”
In his address, the Chairman of the SSNIT residents association, Mr Mac Wortsi, commended management for their sense of initiative.
He said the association would collaborate with residents to adopt maintenance culture to enhance the efficient and effective operation of the project.
He, however, urged management to provide documents covering the purchase of the flats to enable them to use them as collateral to secure loans in future.