Residents of Addokrom, a small agricultural community in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, now have access to clean water through a new mechanized borehole system donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Prior to the installation, the community’s residents would walk daily to draw potable water from nearby streams and carry it back to their homes. From time to time, however, these same residents would come home empty handed, seeing as hot, dry weather would occasionally cause the streams to dry up.
Yet, aware of the church’s humanitarian efforts in surrounding areas, the community’s residents decided to approach the church for assistance. In response, the church provided a mechanized borehole system complete with a solar-powered pump and a 5,000-liter polytank for storing water, according to the church’s Africa Newsroom.
Joyous about the new installation and the consistent access to clean water it will provide, church and community members and leaders gathered July 22 to celebrate the donation.
“People of my community,” said Chief Nana Agyapong Boateng as he spoke on behalf of his people at the celebratory gathering, “you should all join me to extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for giving us such a much-needed project in our town, because without water there is no life.
“The Church has therefore given us extension of life by this important project,” he continued.
Chief Boateng then encouraged the community to care for the new water system, pledging to see to its maintenance.
President Prosper Mensah of the church’s Ejisu Ghana Stake also spoke at the gathering, reminding listeners that funds for the new water system stemmed from the donations of church members worldwide.
“This facility has come from contributions or sacrifices made by individual members of the church worldwide,” he said. “The church does not discriminate; all are children of God. It is our fervent prayer that this project will bring unity and peace among these town folks.”
President Mensah advised community residents to avoid contention in the use of the new system and instead allow it to be a means of bringing them closer together.
During the event, President Mensah also handed Chief Boateng keys to the new installation and enjoyed a drink of cool, clean water himself.
Having helped coordinate the project, Elder Louis Fuell and Sister Brenda Fuell — senior missionaries serving in the church’s Ghana Kumasi Mission — also directed a few words towards the community’s residents, saying the donation was an expression of Christ’s love for them.
Feeling this love and gratitude for the new water system, one resident said: “This is indeed the best thing that could happen to us in this community. We have suffered long for scarcity of clean water. We are very, very grateful.”
