GHANA – Cargill Ghana Limited is seeking to setup ten mechanized solar water systems in partnership with Safe Water Network Gh.
The sustainability partnership project, dubbed Expanding sustainable access to safe water in cocoa-growing communities in Ghana, aims at enhancing access to safe water in cocoa rural farming communities.
The installation is expected to be completed in six months, at a cost of US$150,000.
According to Cargill, the project is in line with its Community Wellbeing Strategic Action Plan linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of providing safe and affordable water for all by 2030.
The systems will be spread across 10 rural cocoa-growing communities in the Western North region, which have been part of Cargill’s sourcing network and the Cargill Cocoa Promise since 2017.
“This project is a necessity as it will contribute to improving the livelihood of the farmers and subsequently keep the cocoa sector alive.”
Samuel Apana – Sustainability Country Lead of Cargill
The selection of the communities and the projects were based on a Community Action Plan (CAP) development and a needs assessment in collaboration with CARE International.
In all, a total of 6,000 people, in 10 communities and 4 cocoa growing districts are expected to benefit from the water project.
“Cargill is committed to using the power of partnership to bring transformation in the lives of our cherished cocoa farmers and their communities.
“This project is a necessity as it will contribute to improving the livelihood of the farmers and subsequently keep the cocoa sector alive,” comments Samuel Apana, the Sustainability Country Lead of Cargill.
Safe Water Network Gh. (SWN), a globally recognized decentralized safe water provider, has been tasked with the procurement of equipment for the installation of the 10 new micro-water systems powered by solar energy in the region.
The system comprises of a standalone water tank with 5,000 litres storage capacity with six taps and sourced from one borehole which is equipped with solar power with four (4) panels.
The solar water systems will be owned by local District Assemblies and will be operated and maintained by locally trained community Water & Sanitation Management Teams (WMSTs) and Operators.
The WSMTs will be able to cover the operational, repair, and other support costs of the water system with proceeds from water sales.
“We are excited about our partnership with Cargill which is not only providing new safe water infrastructure but investing in developing local level operating skill capability to keep it going in the long term,” said Safe Water Network Country Director, Charles Nimako.
This new initiative typifies the commitment of the “Cargill Cocoa Promise” aimed at ensuring a thriving and sustainable cocoa sector for the unborn generation by improving the livelihood of farmers and communities holistically in origin countries.
Founded in 2012, the Corporate Social Responsibility scheme has leveraged the company’s 10 years of experience in the field with farmers and farmer organizations to achieve multiple ambitions and objectives that have been in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2017.
It is made possible by working together with a vast network of partner organizations and stakeholders.
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