For many years, the simple act of getting a drink of clean water challenged students and teachers at the Samsam Odumase MA Basic School in the Ga West Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. That challenge was removed on 27 February 2026, through the donation of a borehole from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
President Campbell of the Ghana Accra West Mission, and Sister Waterfall, a senior humanitarian missionary, receive a citation of appreciation for the borehole donated on 27 February 2026.
President Campbell of the Ghana Accra West Mission, and Sister Waterfall, a senior humanitarian missionary, receive a citation of appreciation for the borehole donated on 27 February 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The 400 students and 20 teachers at the school had, for years, relied on a dugout well as the school’s primary water source. Unfortunately, the well frequently ran out of water and could not meet daily demands. When the well dried up, students and teachers resorted to fetching water from a stream that is also used by cattle, making it highly unsafe for drinking and hygiene. Because of contamination from animals and stagnant water, students and staff faced a high risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and typhoid. The water crisis and its health consequences forced students and teachers to leave school in search of clean water, affecting attendance and concentration in class.
Upon receiving a request from the school for assistance in getting a borehole, the Church assessed the situation and began the process of drilling a new well for the school. Water from the new borehole was found to be salty, so the Church installed a reverse osmosis filtration system to clean the water. Now, with the completion of the project, the school, as well as residents of the community, can enjoy cool, clean and fresh water regularly.
The handover ceremony, which was conducted on school grounds next to the borehole, began with students singing the National Anthem of Ghana, followed by the school anthem and then an opening prayer. As the speeches began, Mr. Emmanuel Marion Goka, head teacher of the Samsam Odumase MA Basic School, welcomed everyone and set the tone for the ceremony, saying: “Today is not just a ceremony; it is a moment of transformation, a moment where a long-standing challenge has been turned into a lasting solution. For years, access to clean and safe water has been a serious difficulty for our school and community, but today that story has changed. This borehole is not just a facility; it is life, it is health and it is hope for our learning. On behalf of the entire school and community, I express our deepest gratitude to our donor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for constructing this borehole for the benefit of the school and the community.”
- Church-and-school-officials-sample-the-water-from-the-new-borehole-donated-on-27-February-2026.
- Dignitaries-gather-to-cut-the-ribbon-marking-the-handover-of-the-borehole-on-27-February-2026.
- School-children-recite-poems-to-celebrate-clean-water-from-the-borehole-donated-on-27-February-2026.
- President-Campbell-addresses-the-school-children-who-will-benefit-from-the-borehole-donated-on-27-February-2026.
- President-and-Sister-Campbell-join-with-school-officials-and-community-leaders-to-celebrate-the-donation-on-27-February-2026.
- Drums-provide-the-cadence-for-school-children-dancing-in-celebration-of-the-handover-on-27-February-2026.
- Young-school-girls-gather-for-a-quick-conversation-with-Sister-Campbell-during-the-handover-on-27-February-2026.
- Members-of-the-Church-delegation-listen-to-speeches-at-the-handover-ceremony-on-27-February-2026.
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Honorable Joseph Dankwa, Assembly Member for Gorno Electoral Area, echoed those sentiments, saying: “Water, they say, is life, and therefore, with this gesture, you have just given us a life span. Our pupils are happy today to see this project come to fruition. They are therefore thanking you so much. May God continue to bless you and continue to do this vital work that will continue to inspire people and motivate all of us. We are grateful unto you. God bless you.”
To manifest their gratitude, students performed various dances of celebration throughout the ceremony, and at one point they performed a dramatic skit entitled “Water Is Life.”
Rodney L. Campbell, President of the Ghana Accra West Mission, spoke directly to the students of the school and compared their education to the water they were drinking. He noted that if someone drinks contaminated water, it can cause illness or even death. In the same way, he explained, learning should be guided by truth and correct principles.
Noting that the water from their borehole must be purified to be safe to drink, he compared this to the need for education to be guided by moral principles and by choosing good over evil. He then referenced the Doctrine and Covenants, telling the students that in the Church it is taught that “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.”
President Campbell concluded by declaring that members of the Church believe that Jesus Christ is the living water and quoted the Savior’s teaching: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that He shall give shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
The Church's humanitarian efforts strive to emulate the Savior's example of helping the poor and the needy.
The ceremony concluded with dignitaries cutting a ribbon to formally turn over the borehole. With the ribbon cut, President Campbell, along with several other leaders present, enjoyed a drink of fresh, clean water from the borehole.