John Mahama we are Sorry!

John MAHAMA WE ARE SORRY!

It is said that one does not appreciate what he has until he loses it.

I have been trying in the past months to collate and enumerate some major achievements of former President Mahama, and I was shocked at the outcome. He is breathtakingly phenomenal!

Turning my kaleidoscope towards the health, education and aviation sectors, I saw several new regional hospitals, many new poly-clinics, two new teaching hospitals, one brand new Millitary hospital in Kumasi, numerous new day Senior High Schools, two new International Airports and the construction of the much-talked-about ultra-modern Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport. According to admirers, the terminal is not just a thing of beauty, but a potential tourism booster.

Turning my kaleidoscope towards another area, I can see the Atuabo Gas Plant, the expansion of Tema and Takoradi harbours, the ultra modern Kwame Nkrumah and Kasoa interchanges and many more others. These are unprecedented developmental projects in the history of our country that can never be overlooked.

But folks, that is not all. He almost completed massive expansion work in the area of water supply. The expansion of the US$273 million Kpong water works which would have supplied 40 million gallons of water a day to areas including Adenta, Madina, Kwabenya, Ashongman; North, East and West Legon, Ashaley Botwe, Haatso, Asofan, Dome and many others.

Also worth mentioning is the 16.5 million Euro Kpong Intake Rehabilitation Project to increase supply to Accra -Tema Metropolitan Area. Communities to benefit from the project include Dodowa, Ningo, Prampram and the Akuapem Ridge.

Of another significant importance is the installation of equipment at a cost of 56.5 million Euros for the production of 9 million gallons of water per day, this includes, the construction of four reservoirs at Adukrom, Dodowa, Atimpoku and Akorley as well as a 92km transmission pipelines. This project would have improved water supply to almost 70 communities in both the Greater Accra and the Eastern Regions. And more than a quarter of a million people in these communities would have had access to potable water. These include:

Michel Camp, Afienya, Kpone, Ayitepa, Kponguna, Omankope, Kodiabe,Doyumu, Agomeda, Adumanya, Menyum and Odese. Other areas are: Akorley, Abonse, Aperede, Adukrom, Awukugua, Dawu, Abiriw, Akropong Mamfe, Amanokrom, Tutu, Obosomase, Ahwerase, Aburi, Gyankrom, Peduase, Kitase, Berekuso, Frankadua, Apegusu, Mangoasi, New Senchi, Akrade, Domeabra, Lolonyo and Agomanya.

There are also dozens of other water projects which were at various stages of completion around the country when he left office, which would have added 30 million gallons of water a day to the existing stock. These are the Wa Water Project, the Nsawam Water Supply Project, the Kwahu Ridge, Konongo and Kumawu Water Supply Projects. Beneficiary communities include Wa Metropolitan Area, University for Development Studies Campus, Jamgoasi, Kog, Guo, Pase, Dorimon, Boro, Chaira, Siriyiri, Bamaho, Bole, Kolong and Kperisi.

Others include Medie, Ntoaso No. 1 and 2, Owuraku, Hebron, Adoagyiri, Abene, Abetifi, Asakraka, Aduamua, Bepong, Bokuruwa, Tafo, Mpraeso, Nkwatia, Nteso, Obo, Obomeng, Pepease, Kotosu, Asempanaye, Nkwakwa, Hweehwee, Akwasiho and Suminakese.

All these water projects cannot be acknowledged without mentioning additional works on the Kumasi Water Supply Project, the Asante Mampong Water Supply Project, the Akim Oda-Akwatia-Winneba Water Supply Project and the five towns (Anyinam, Kibi, Osenase, Apedwa and Kwabeng) Water Supply Project.

I think I am getting tired, but before I end, let me also mention Damanko-Kpassa Water Supply Project which serves about 60,000 people in 13 communities in the Nkwanta North District of the Volta Region; the Four Constituencies Water Supply Project designed to serve 150 communities in Central Tongu, North Tongu, Adaklu, Anyigbe, Ho West and Ho East with a total population of over a quarter of a million.

Finally, the final batch of water projects I want to talk about is the COCOBOD Borehole Project, under which people living in Cocoa, Shea-nut and coffee growing areas are benefiting from access to potable water from 1,008 boreholes to serve over 300,000 people.

In fact, these projects are just a fraction of what former President Mahama achieved for Ghana, and this make me tingle with regret regarding why we as a nation did not allow him to continue his awesome “Changing Lives” agenda.

It is always better late than never, and on behalf of the good people of Ghana I want to take this opportunity to say, Mahama we are sorry! Posterity is indeed judging you!

By Author Anthony Obeng Afrane