The Jirapa Municipal Assembly on 6th day of October 2023 signed a twenty-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 4Ward Development West Africa LTD, (“4WardWA”), to provide an independent rural water system for the client within the Jirapa Municipality.
The purpose of this agreement is to create a durable working relationship between 4WardWA and the governing body, Jirapa Municipal Assembly, whereby together they partner to provide an independent rural water system for the client within the Jirapa Municipality.
The Jirapa Municipal Assembly, contracted 4WardWA to finance, build, operate, maintain and own the Facilities and carry out the services for the duration of twenty (20) years. The project is expected to begin 1st November, 2023.
The beneficiary communities include Sabuli, Ping, Hain, Nindo Waala, Ullo, Tiza, Douri, Yaga, Tugo, and Konzokala.
Mr. Yekini Ahmed Northern Regional director 4ward development says, 4WardWA, with the help of the client, will hire water vendors who will collect water Tariffs through a pay-as-you-fetch method and maintain sanitation around the kiosk and pump sites. The Tariffs he said will be collected by the vendor and transferred to 4WardWA’s mobile money accounts to request for water tokens to ensure continuous flow of Potable Water to client community members.
He added that 4WardWA will work with the governing body to communicate to the client community members the advantages of a service delivery approach and the benefits of patronizing reliable and safe water provided and managed on their behalf.
Mr. Yekini also mention that 4WardWA will provide water to client community members at a current rate of 30gh pesewas for 18 Liters of water fetched (‘34’ bucket) at pipe stands (mechanized borehole system).
Stating that in the agreement, 4WardWA will provide opportunities for individual households, schools, clinics, businesses, and other institutions to have access to piped water via a purchased NUMA Now (household) connection with prepaid meter at a cost of Gh₵ 18.50 per meter cubed. The connection fee is all inclusive at a current rate of Gh₵ 995.
The Regional Director 4ward Development also hinted that, Tariffs and connection fee will be reviewed with the governing body and client annually and adjusted, if necessary, based on actual costs of delivery and revenues received. If an agreement on appropriate Tariff levels cannot be made, 4WardWA reserves the right to discontinue the Services.
4WardWA according to Mr. Yekini Ahmed, commits that, the safe water infrastructure installed, including water kiosks, pumping systems, pipelines and/or hand pumps, will remain in the client community for as long as the governing body and client maintain and adhere to this agreement. In the event of early termination, 4WardWA will offer the government body to buy the facility at market price.
The Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Lawyer Nicholas Soyiri thanked the leadership of 4ward Development and assures them that, the Jirapa Municipal Assembly will create an enabling environment for 4WardWA’s water service delivery business to be successful in the client community.
Stating that the Assembly will support or participate in organizing meetings and training programs necessary to allow the client and community members to express concerns or better understand the water delivery service and management.
