Ghana
Water Well
Improving access to safe, clean water for families in Ghana through the construction of boreholes
Water & Sanitation
The Need
The United Nations recognizes access to water and sanitation as a human right—safe drinking water is essential for human survival and for the healthy physical, emotional and cognitive development of children. Sadly, in many rural communities around the world, families lack access to safe, clean water. Families from two of Compassion’s frontline church partners in the Adum Banso and Wassa Ankasie villages in Ghana face frequent water shortages and limited access to clean water. This disproportionately impacts women and children, who are tasked with fetching water for their families.
Women and children in the Adum Banso community often fetch water at night to avoid large crowds that gather at water sources like streams and wells. Collecting water at night causes serious disruptions to their lives—women often struggle to continue their subsistence activities due to fatigue and children are often too tired to concentrate in school. Even after all their hard work, the water they collect is often unsafe to drink. Waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, schistosomiasis (a parasitic infection), skin rashes and typhoid are common.
In the Wassa Ankasie village, families face similar issues. Without adequate access to clean water sources and hygiene education, many children miss school or program days at their local Compassion centre due to illness caused by drinking contaminated water.
Our church partners in Ghana have been doing everything they can to help address these challenges by encouraging children to practise good hygiene habits like washing their hands before eating and after using the washroom. While the centres lacked clean water too, staff worked hard to ensure children had access to clean water on program days. However, children still returned home to drink untreated water, leaving them unable to practise what they learned. Our church partners knew that long-term solutions were needed to provide the children and families they serve with safe, clean water to use every day.
Our Response
With your generous support, Compassion worked with their frontline church partners in Adum Banso and Wassa Ankasie in Ghana to provide safe drinking water to 445 registered children and their families through the construction of boreholes.
The intervention officially launched in August 2023. Church staff developed implementation committees to oversee the execution of the intervention. Each church found local drilling firms to construct the boreholes at their facilities. The hired contractors consulted with leaders and community members and then completed a geophysical site survey to assess the construction sites.
Unfortunately, the team at GH0969 terminated their contract with the selected contractor due to issues of misrepresentation and integrity. Because this situation caused a delay, an amendment to the schedule was requested and approved. The team found a new contractor and construction began at both sites.
The boreholes were completed in July 2024. In August, the contractors dug the grounds and installed piping networks and pipe stands in the communities, ensuring families would be able to access water as close as possible to their homes. At each facility, 10,000 litre–capacity water storage polytanks were installed as well as four hand washing sinks, allowing participants to practise good hygiene habits on program days.
Upon completion, church staff worked alongside local environmental health workers to host hygiene education workshops for children and caregivers, teaching families the importance of proper hand washing techniques, safe water storage and sanitation practices. Each church also hosted a dedication ceremony to celebrate the new facilities and fixtures. Community members, children and caregivers attended. The participating churches plan to sell water to others in the communities at a low fee to help cover maintenance fees and have engaged caretakers to operate and manage the new facilities.
Activities
Borehole drilling: Before drilling, hired contractors conducted a hydrogeological survey to assess the construction site. The team used high-quality machinery to excavate the site, construct mechanized boreholes and install a network of pipes.
Community planning: Contractors discussed the plans and layout for the community pipe stands to ensure all children and family members had equal access to clean water.
Water storage facility: A water storage facility was constructed and 10,000 litre–capacity storage tanks were installed, ensuring community members and the church facilities had reliable access to water.
Commissioning ceremony: Church staff, community members, children and parents celebrated the new borehole and facilities at a commissioning ceremony event.
Hygiene education: Children and caregivers received vital hygiene education on topics such as proper hand washing, safe water storage and the use of clean water. They demonstrated what they learned by washing their hands in the newly installed sinks.
Clean water: With new pipe stands installed, children and caregivers now easily fetch safe, clean water. They no longer need to travel long distances or venture out at night to collect water for their families, leaving children better able to focus during school and caregivers with more energy to provide for their families.
Your Gift Provides...
Your gift provided accessible, safe drinking water for 445 beneficiaries, their families and their communities through the construction of two new boreholes in the communities of Adum Banso and Wassa Ankasie, Ghana:
Borehole drilling and construction
– Hydrological study of the community sites
– Borehole drilling and construction
– Test pumping
– Water quality testing
– Borehole capping, supply and installation of the submersible pump
Materials for reservoir/cement platforms
– 2 5,000 litre polytanks (one per centre)
– Surface pump
– Automatic starter
– PE pipes and fittings, working accessories and 8 hand washing sinks and accessories (4 per centre)
– Materials including cement, sand, stones, iron rods, binding wire, wood and nails
– Transportation cost for materials
– Electrical works
Workmanship
– Carpentry
– Masonry
– Plumbing
– Steel bender
– Unskilled labour
– Honorarium for health experts
– Venue for training
– Snacks for participants
Monitoring and evaluation
– Monitoring by implementation committee
– Fee for monitoring and consultation by external expert
– Monitor cost by Compassion International Ghana staff
ReportA message from a pastor
The participants now have access to potable water to use. Previously, they used to fetch water from the stream, which was far from the community and was also contaminated as the water was polluted with debris and other waste materials. This caused children often to report to school and the centre late. But through this intervention, families can now easily get potable water in the community to use and are able to attend school and meetings at the centre on time.
I am glad to say that the completion of this intervention has been beneficial to the members in the church and the community. Now, they have access to potable water, enough for drinking and household use. This has alleviated the burden on families to travel to the stream each day to fetch water—especially for women and children.
Implementing the intervention has strengthened the relationships and collaboration between the church, school authorities, traditional leaders and community members, as they all came on board to ensure the success of the intervention. Additionally, the construction of the hand washing sinks has made it easier for the church to ensure that children practise proper hand washing to prevent diseases.
Prior to the intervention, participants often came to the centre late on program days, which affected the scheduled activities. But since the borehole intervention was completed, I have observed that they now come early to participate in curriculum activities. The intervention has also increased the confidence of the participants and their families in the church. Now, they pay closer attention to what they are taught during church services and activities at the centre.
Water is life. Providing water to a community means giving life to the community. On behalf of the church leadership, participants, their families and the community members of Adum Banso, I thank you and say well done to the sponsors and Compassion International for the financial support. I wish you more wonderful years ahead as you continue to give life to participants in other communities. May the good Lord bless you all. Amen.
ReportA message from those your gift helped
Before the intervention, fetching water to use each day before going to school was a challenge, as I had to cross the road and go to the stream with my siblings to find water. As a result, I usually got to school and the centre late on program days, which made me miss some lessons in class. Also, my siblings and I were exposed to parasitic infections as a result of fetching water from the stream.
Thanks to Compassion International and the sponsors, the church has given us clean water from the borehole, which is very close to my house. I now drink clean water at home and at the centre during program days. I also don’t walk the long distance to the stream any longer. I am now able to get to the centre and school early and use my time to study. I have easy access to drinking water and can now wash my hands regularly at the centre during meetings and at school.
This intervention will promote healthy living both in my life and in that of my family. We will be able to practise proper hand washing at home and the centre with the water available from the borehole, which will prevent infections. This change will help us reduce waterborne infections in my family.
I have learned that water is key to healthy living and that we need to take good care of this gift that was given to us. I have also learned to help other people who may be in need in any way that I can.
It is my prayer that God replenishes all the financial support you have given to help us get potable water in our community. I say a big thank you to the donors and may God richly bless you for your kind gesture and grant all your heart desires. Amen.
ReportThank you for your generosity
Safe, clean water can make all the difference for growing children—access to clean drinking water reduces illnesses among children, allowing them to actively participate in school and extracurricular activities and promoting their overall health and well-being. Thanks to your generous support, 445 children from two Compassion centres in Ghana now have access to clean drinking water. On program days, staff can now adequately prepare nutritious meals and participants have enough water to stay hydrated.
Children and families can also fetch water from community pipe stands, providing them with clean water to use for drinking, cooking and cleaning at home. Thanks to your gift, women and children are no longer burdened with long, dangerous treks to fetch water outside of their communities—water that was often contaminated and unsafe to drink. Staff from both centres have already noted the impact this intervention has had on children and families in their communities. Reverend John, pastor from the GH0969 centre, reports that children are practising good personal hygiene habits such as hand washing and are no longer fetching water from polluted sources. Darene, the Centre director at GH0763, has seen more children regularly attend school as they experience fewer illnesses and no longer miss class due to fetching water. These changes are a testament to the transformative power of access to clean water.
Thanks to your generous support, children and families in two communities in Ghana now have access to clean water through the construction of boreholes, community access points and hand washing sinks. As a result, children are healthier, safer and better equipped to thrive in their education and holistic development. Families are no longer worried about their children drinking safe water, and whole communities are experiencing improved health and well-being. Thank you for showing the love of God and changing the lives of thousands of children, youth and community members in Ghana!