On August 28, 2025, Mr. Yao Gomado, Member of Parliament for the Akan Constituency, officially launched a transformative borehole-drilling initiative across all 40 schools participating in the School Feeding Programme within Kadjebi District of Ghana’s Oti Region. Addressing a longstanding challenge of unreliable water supply, the project seeks to guarantee that pupils and staff have continuous access to safe, potable water for both drinking and meal preparation. By tackling water scarcity at its source, the initiative aims to streamline instructional time, enhance daily nutrition efforts, and foster an environment where learning takes precedence over the daily chore of fetching water.

The first borehole, ceremonially completed at the Kadjebi Education Directorate, now supplies clean water to the entire District Education Office, setting a powerful precedent for the remaining 39 sites. Prior to this intervention, many schools depended on distant streams or shared community wells, forcing pupils—especially girls—to spend hours each day collecting water and detracting from valuable classroom engagement. Recognising that access to water is a basic need, Mr. Gomado insisted that installing boreholes would not only bolster health and hygiene but also “create an environment where pupils can focus on learning rather than searching for water”.

Technical assessments were conducted in advance of drilling identified prime locations for sustainable water extraction. Geophysical surveys guided the placement of deep wells reaching aquifers up to 60 metres below ground, coupled with solar-powered pumps and elevated storage tanks to ensure uninterrupted flow. 

Each site will feature hand-washing stations and protected pumping handles to safeguard water quality and hygiene, conforming to Ghana Education Service standards. These infrastructure enhancements are expected to reduce water-collection time from several hours to mere minutes, thereby allowing cook-room staff to devote their efforts to improving meal preparation and dietary variety.

Teachers and school heads have welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm, noting immediate improvements in student attendance and classroom punctuality. At Mawuena Primary School, Headmistress Akua Mensah reported that children previously absent during market days—when water fetchers were busy—have returned to regular schooling. “We now see children coming on time for both breakfast and lunch, and they participate more actively in lessons,” she said, highlighting the ripple effect of reliable water on educational outcomes and the overall effectiveness of the School Feeding Programme.