Water, they say is life. In light of this, Prof. Lawrence Naaikuur, the Executive Director of Hope for People's Empowerment (HOPE), a Wa-based NGO dedicated to the socio-economic improvements of marginalized communities in the Upper West Region, yesterday, Friday, July 24, 2026 commissioned two boreholes for the Kpiyagl- Wanyegangn and konyugangn communities in the Nandom Municipal Area.
The boreholes, financed by a Dutch Organization, OASENdrinkwater, have been provided to the communities which are amongst several others that still face difficulties in accessing potable water in the Municipal Area.
Before the commissioning of these boreholes, members of these communities used to commute far distances to fetch water. In the case of Kuonyugangn, women from the other side had to cross a busy road to fetch water. This was very risky to them because they could easily be knocked down by a motorist. Besides that, the distance they had to cover to fetch the water had left many couples fighting particularly this rainy season. Men who go to their farms early, had to wait for hours for their wives to arrive with water and food. This caused a lot of confusion between couples and even threatened their marriages with divorce.
In the case of Kpiyagyl -Wanyegangn, there was no borehole at all. They relied on dam"s water. Water that is brown. If you are offered such colourful water, you will never drink it.
The Executive Director of HOPE, Professor Lawrence Naaikuur who is a non-partisan community developer is not a politician and has no interest in contesting any political position. He explained that
the selection of the beneficiary communities, had been conducted jointly by his organization and the Nandom Municipal Assembly, to ensure transparency in the process.
The two commissioned yesterday, brought to four, the number of boreholes HOPE has provided to communities within the Nandom Municipal Area in the past three years.
The two communities were so elated that they ran short of words in expressing their gratitude to Prof. Lawrence Naaikuur and his team for adding value to their lives and giving them hope to live longer and take care of their children.
Other interventions the Organizations had undertaken across communities in the Municipal area, include; supporting women entrepreneurship in poultry rearing and quality shea-nuts and butter production to match international standards for export.
In addition, HOPE has held sensitization sessions on prevention of violent extremism issues, for communities living along the Ghana-Burkina Faso borders, not only in Nandom but also within the Lambussie District.
Professor Lawrence Naaikuur made a clarion call on the various community members to form borehole maintenance committees that will be in charge of the boreholes. He advised them to start contributing some money towards the repairs of these boreholes in case they spoil.
The people appreciated him and his team for their magnanimity and wished them a long life.
Derbie Raphael
0240371356
