Ghana to export water to Togo

Ghana and Togo have signed a contract to treat excess water from the Akosombo Dam and supply it to some towns in the Volta Region and Togo. Under the agreement, the two countries would seek financial assistance from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the development of a treatment plant at Sokagope in the Volta Region. The treatment plant is to be designed to prevent excess water from the Akosombo Dam from flowing into the sea. The water will then be treated and supplied through pipes to beneficiary areas in Ghana and Togo. The contract for the project was signed following a meeting held between President John Dramani Mahama and his Togolese counterpart President Faure Gnassingbé in Togo last Monday. President Mahama made a stop-over in Togo en route to Benin for a two-day state visit there. Briefing journalists on the contract at the Flagstaff House, Kanda in Accra today (Wednesday), the Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Mahama Ayariga, said the documents for the project had since been forwarded to the government's legal team for a review. He said the legal team was expected to complete the review this month and submit it to the AfDB.

President Mahama and President Gnassingbé also touched on energy generation, and the need for Ghana to increase supply to Togo. The Minister said President Mahama gave the assurance that Ghana would increase its energy generation and raise energy supply to Togo. For instance, he said, the Ghana government would develop a mini hydro plant at Juale in the Northern Region to increase the country's energy capacity and supply the excess to Togo. The two leaders also spoke about regional integration, especially the need to promote the free movement of people, goods and services across borders, Mr Ayariga said. He said President Mahama and his Togolese counterpart also gave their commitment for the Lagos Highway Road Project, which seeks to facilitate transportation between Ghana and her neighbouring countries. continued