The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collaborated with The Ga Mantse Foundation and the Ga Traditional Council to officially launch a major Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project on April 29, 2025. The project will improve access to clean water and hygienic facilities for under-served communities in the Greater Accra Region.
From Left to right: Hon. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie (Member of parliament Odododiodio Constituency, Elder Samuel Annan-Simons (Area Seventy and Area Director of Communications & Publishing Department), Hon. Rita Odoi Sowah (Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs), Nii Ahele Nunuoo III (Paramount Chief), His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II (Ga King), Nii Dodoo Nsakie (Paramount Chief), and Nii Ayikai III (Paramount Chief)
From Left to right: Hon. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie, member of parliament Odododiodio constituency; Elder Samuel Annan-Simons, Area Seventy and area director of Communications & Publishing Department for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Hon. Rita Odoi Sowah, deputy minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Nii Ahele Nunuoo III, Paramount chief); His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga King; Nii Dodoo Nsakie, Paramount chief; and Nii Ayikai III, Paramount chief, on 29 April 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The WASH project will include the construction of boreholes and washroom facilities in selected communities, purposed to improve the access to clean water and sanitation necessary to enhance the health and well-being of the people of the Ga Kingdom.
Residents expressed excitement and gratitude, calling the initiative a blessing that would ease the burden of water scarcity and access to sanitation facilities, especially for school children.
The inaugural sod-cutting ceremony took place at the Ga Mantse Palace Kaneshie. It was attended by His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II (Ga King), leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ, traditional leaders, local government representatives, representatives from the Ghana Education Service, students and community members.
The Ga King said the efforts demonstrate a shared responsibility and compassion and expressed appreciation for the Church’s collaboration in the past.
“Today I speak with deep joy because this event directly concerns our children, in terms of their education, sanitation and preparation for the future.”
- King-Tackie-Teiko-Tsuru-II-(Ga-King)-addressing-the-gathering.
- Elder-Samuel-Annan-Simons-(Area-Seventy-and-Area-Director-of-Communications--Publishing-Department)-speaking-on-behalf-of-the-Church.
- Cultural-display-by-some-school-students.
- The-Ga-King,-Elder-Annan-Simons,-Paramount--Chiefs-and-other-dignitaries-cut-sod-to-symbolize-the-commencement-of-the-project,-29-April,-2025.
- The-WASH-project-unveiled,-29-April,-2025.
- 8.Elder-Annan-Simons--Flint-Mensah-(Director-for-Temporal-Affairs)-exchange-pleasantries-with-the-Ga-King-on-29-April,-2025.
- Some-local-leaders-(left-to-right)-including-the-Chief-Priests,-Chief-of-Staff-to-the-Ga-King,-Leader-of-the-Ga-Fishing-Community,-Lawyer-to-the-Ga-Throne,-Queen-mothers-and-Priestesses-at-the-event,-29-April,-2025.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Honorable Alfred Nii Ashie Kotey, member of parliament for the Odododiodio constituency, which will most benefit from the project, addressed the audience:
“I want to take the opportunity to say a big thank you to [the Ga King] and the Latter-day Saints’ church for this brilliant initiative. For the past seven years, we’ve had challenges with water shortage in Accra and each year it keeps getting worse. Technical experts have told us it is due to population growth and the fact that we are not producing more.”
The Greater Accra Region is the most urbanized area in Ghana, which, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, has a population of approximately 5.4 million people. The influx of people from other regions seeking socio-economic opportunities has placed significant strain on existing facilities, including water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Representing the Church, Elder Samuel Annan-Simons, Area Seventy and area director of the Communications & Publishing Department, emphasized the Church’s commitment to sustainable development and service.
“This project reflects the values we hold dear in our faith — service, compassion and love for our fellow man. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are taught to love our neighbors and to care for those in need. Today’s sod-cutting is an expression of that love in action,” he said.
The Church had previously collaborated with the Ga Mantse Foundation to donate equipment (medical and non-medical) to the Princess Marie Louise Children Hospital, as well as renovating the schools in the King Tackie Tawiah I cluster.