Barclayville- Thousands of Citizens in Grand Kru County District #2 now have all reason to smile following the breaking of grounds for the construction of 33 handpumps in 29 Communities in the District.
Representing Deputy Speaker Cllr J Fonati Koffa, the Constituency Coordinator, Chris Joboe said the construction of the handpumps is in fulfilment of Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa’s promise made during his most recent 45 Communities Tour in the District.
According to Chris Joboe, the handpumps project will play a significant role in the lives of thousands of Citizens in the District, adding that access to safe drinking water has been a major challenge for residents in the community.
“The construction and installation of this project and other projects by the Deputy Speaker will significantly impact the lives of citizens across the entire District,” Chris Joboe stated.
Coordinator Joboe intoned that the long wait for safe drinking water in the 29 Communities is about to be over and that all has been finalized to ensure that project is implemented.
“Cllr Koffa remains the beacon of hope, and whenever he makes a promise, he always fulfills. I can say for the record that he is a leader who cares for his constituents and the records are there,” Coordinator Chris Joboe lamented
Mr. Joboe called on citizens of District #2 Grand Kru County to rally their supports around Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and ensure that they take ownership of the handpumps project.
According to Joboe, it is evidently cleared that the monthly wages and salaries of Lawmaker in the 54th Legislature cannot fund a project of such huge financial cost.
He disclosed that the 33 handpumps will cost the Grand Kru County District #2 Lawmaker One Hundred Three Thousands United States Dollars (103,000USD).
“To get this project started, Cllr. Koffa had to go in his own pocket because we are all aware since the inception of this new government, there have been no legislative funded project due to financial constraints,” Chris noted
The indoor program of the Ground Breaking Ceremony was held at the Methodist Church in Felorken Harrisville City, Grand Kru County.
At the ceremony Coordinator Chris Joboe further indicated that the project is in three phases with the first phase expected to target two Statutory Districts which includes Barclayville District and Dorbor District respectively.
In the Barclayville District, five Communities are expected to benefit. They include Felorken Harrisville, Small Seen, BeSwen, Topor, Upper Felenken benefiting one handpump each; while in Dorbor District Warkpo, Nyenkupo, kpo, Barforwin and New Town will be benefiting one handpump each.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony was attended by Grand Kru County Superintendent Madam Doris Ylayun who admonished residents to take ownership of the project—describing it as a milestone intervention by the Deputy Speaker.
She lauded the Grand Kru County Lawmaker for his development initiatives which are making huge impact in the lives of the people he represents.
Following the end of the Ground Breaking Ceremony, citizens of Felorken appreciated Cllr. Koffa for hearing their cry.
According to them, for too long, they have struggled to have access to safe drinking water and his intervention has brought smile to their faces
Some lamented that they have been fetching water from long distances and in most cases, the water they fetch would not be safe for drinking.
” We have suffered. Yes, we get water from far places and the it is dangerous for our health,” Annie Gray a mother of two lamented.
The 33 handpumps will be constructed by a local Construction company named KRF based in Barclayville.
Pundits believe that the Deputy Speaker’s decision to use a local company in Barclayville is also a mean of empowering the local economy.
