Community Alliance Ends Water Crisis at Saltpond Municipal Hospital with 50,000-Litre System

The Mfantseman-Saltpond Development Alliance (MSDA) has officially commissioned a 50,000-litre automated water supply system at the Saltpond Municipal Hospital in the Central Region, bringing an end to years of debilitating water shortages that had cost the facility tens of thousands of cedis annually. The project, spearheaded by MSDA founder Ernest De-Graft Egyir, was first announced at the maiden Saltpond Homecoming Festival and has since been described as a landmark community-driven development initiative.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr De-Graft Egyir stressed that access to water in a healthcare environment is not a luxury but a necessity. "Water is life, and in a healthcare facility, it is indispensable. It supports quality healthcare delivery, infection prevention, sanitation, patient care and the daily work of our dedicated health professionals," he said, adding that the project stands as proof that citizens united behind a common purpose can achieve extraordinary results.

The Medical Superintendent of the Saltpond Municipal Hospital, Dr John Moses Wireko, revealed the extent of the hardship the facility had endured, disclosing that the hospital had been spending over GH¢20,000 annually on purchasing water — funds that could otherwise have been directed towards medicines, equipment and patient care. "When MSDA decided to intervene, they did not just give us tanks and pipes; they gave us life and hope," he said.

The project was backed by more than 100 donors and sponsors, including Hon. Abeiku Aggrey Santana, Dr Daniel McKorley, Dr Ernest Ofori Sarpong, Alex Apau Dadey and William Tewiah, among others. Professor Alfred Yawson, Provost of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, who chaired the ceremony, called on all stakeholders to view the Alliance as a long-overdue but welcome intervention for Saltpond's development.

The commissioning ceremony also served as the official launch of the second Saltpond Homecoming Festival, scheduled for 29th August 2026, under the theme 'Building Saltpond Together: From Homecoming to Sustainable Development'. Planned activities include a cultural parade, a durbar and a grand homecoming float.

Three flagship legacy projects are also set to be unveiled at the 2026 festival: modern public toilet facilities across selected electoral areas, a recreational centre aimed at youth development, and a hostel to accommodate healthcare workers and relatives of patients at the Saltpond Municipal Hospital. MSDA says it remains committed to mobilising residents, the diaspora and development partners to drive sustainable growth in the Saltpond community.