Kofi Ampeah Woode
To end over twenty years of grappling with acute access to safe and reliable water for the Duala Barracks, Burma Camp – which houses over 300 families of soldiers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) – the Ghana Army has constructed a new water supply system producing 120,000 liters from 3 mechanized boreholes of 150 meters depth.
Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Bismarck Kwasi Onwona – Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Ghana Army, commissioned the borehole water system which is harvested into three tank farms of 12 Rambo 1000 unit tanks, for the use of over a thousand people comprised of all 3 Services of GAF residing at the densely populated Duala Barracks, on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
Several efforts were previously made to improve the acute water challenge, which was due to the extent of damaged sections of major pipelines that supply water to the barracks, and the reduced supply of water from the Ghana Water Company.
Consequently, the challenge has had a toll on Soldiers and their families, impacting their daily routine, with families purchasing water from private mobile water supply tankers at a cost of GHS 400 to GHS 900 monthly, howbeit with unreliable delivery.
Prior to construction, the water supply system – christened the Mercury Water Supply Station, and also part of the COAS’ Quick Impact Project – was digitally surveyed, geological locations where abundance of water is available selected, and have hence provided 72 tap points for troops and their families to access water easily.
After technical assessment, a team designed a system based on a reliable digital geological survey, ground tanks, and durable distribution lines to the 72 tap points for access to water.
The Mercury Water Supply Station – executed in three weeks of day and night works instead of two months initial target – has been entrusted to 41 Defence Signal Regiment to manage and operate for the benefit of troops and their families within the precincts of the Duala Barracks.
Speaking to the troops at the inauguration, the COAS said the project reflects the Army’s commitment to providing a sustainable water supply system that prioritizes the health and safety of personnel and their families, since water is life and a fundamental human right, and access to safe and reliable water ensures significant enhancement of the well-being and quality of life of the people.
General Onwona continued to say that the Mercury Water Supply Station should be a symbol of progress and a testament to the collective efforts of the Army to invest in the future of its personnel, and is part of efforts to address the infrastructure challenges of Army personnel, and will be replicated in Army Units with similar water supply problems.
He continued to say that the project is intended to improve the general infrastructure needs in Formations, Commands, as well as in the Units, as he has been supporting the Commands and a number of Army Units with their construction projects.
Northern Command, Central Command, 155 Armored Regiment, Army Special Operations Training School, Army Combat Training School, Jungle Warfare School, Artillery Training School, among others, have all benefited from the Ghana Army Headquarters infrastructure support.
Present at the ceremony included the Chief Staff Officer, Army – Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Atogebakoga Alobawone; Commander, Army Training Command – Brig Gen Stephen Woseadzikpo Parbey; Deputy Chief Staff Officer, Operations and Training – Brig Gen Kweku Dankwa Hagan; Formation Commanders, Generals, Senior Officers;
Others included Deputy Commanding Officer, 41 Defence Signal Regiment – Major Bismark Kwesi Atimbiok; Officers, Sergeant Major of the Army, Regimental Sergeant Majors, Senior Warrant Officers, Warrant Officers, Soldiers, Defence Civilian Staff, and families of troops.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
