In Ivory Coast, the locality of Kokaha in the Korhogo division, now has a drinking water system that supplies its populations. The installation is the result of the Water Supply and Sanitation Program co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Commission.
A drinking water supply system with a production capacity of 88 m3 per day has just been inaugurated in Kokaha by the Ivorian government. The construction of this facility, consisting of a water tower and related equipment, is part of the Water Supply and Sanitation Program co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Commission in member countries.
In Ivory Coast, this program co-financed by the IsDB and WAEMU has already resulted in the construction of 120 boreholes equipped with human-powered pumps, 30 water towers, 98 improved latrines and 4,845 household latrines, particularly in the Poro and Tchologo regions and in the Savanes and Denguélé districts.
Towards improved water supply in Kokaha
A major step towards universal access to drinking water has just been taken in Kokaha, a locality located in the department of Korhogo in Ivory Coast. At least 55,000 inhabitants of this council, previously exposed to waterborne diseases, will now be supplied with water thanks to the new water supply system. In Kokaha, the rate of access to drinking water and sanitation is below the national average, which was 82.5% in 2019, according to the Minister of Hydraulics, Laurent Tchagba. The Ivorian government has invested 2.444 billion CFA francs (more than 3.7 million euros), or 27.9% of the budget needed for the construction of the AEP.
“The commissioning of the new water tower will reduce the difficulty of accessing drinking water and improve the health of the population in this locality, which was previously supplied by defective human power pumps,” said Laurent Tchagba, the Ivorian Minister of Hydraulics, while praising the financial support of the IsDB and WAEMU to the tune of 5.556 billion CFA francs (8.4 million euros).
The impact of the program in West Africa
In the current context of climate change, access to water and sanitation facilities remains a major challenge in Africa. This project is in line with Ivory Coast’s vision of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Access to water and sanitation facilities remains a major challenge in the development of member states, especially in the current context marked by the multiple effects of climate change,” explains Jonas Gbian, the WAEMU Commissioner.
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The IsDB-WAEMU water and sanitation program is being implemented in West Africa with an overall investment of about 54 billion CFA francs (over 82 million euros). More than five years after its launch in Dakar, Senegal, this program has resulted in the construction of 940 boreholes equipped with human-powered pumps, 209 hybrid solar-powered mini water conveyances, 21 multi-village water conveyances, 6 autonomous water stations, 19,250 private latrines and 720 public latrines throughout West Africa.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
