The Yendi Municipal Assembly clarified that it will only mechanise seven of the ten boreholes drilled under the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project in the municipality. The explanation follows a September 10 report by The Fourth Estate titled “Drilled on paper: The SOCO ghost boreholes,” which raised concerns about water projects implemented under the SOCO programme.
According to the Assembly, the project was awarded to M. Gazaali Company Limited on October 16, 2023, with an initial contract sum of GH¢1,098,350. Hydrogeological and geophysical studies by Geoppexx Enterprise identified ten communities for the boreholes. Drilling was successful in Gundogu, Meindogu, Kpanjamba No. 1, Kpanjamba No. 2, Dagbanja, Kuni and Kparku. Drilling at Kpatua failed because the aquifer was dry, and Kamshegu and Guntingli also had dry aquifers.
After the seven successful boreholes were drilled, the Assembly said it became necessary to extend electricity and water pipelines from the communities to the borehole sites because of the distances involved. Electricity had to be extended by about 1.7 kilometres to the borehole site at Kuni, 1 kilometre at Gundogu and 800 metres at Kpanjamba No. 2. The additional works required the project to be re‑costed, with approval obtained for a revised contract sum of GH¢1,096,580.80. A total of GH¢1,086,938.40 was subsequently paid to the contractor, leaving a balance of GH¢11,411.60.
The Assembly confirmed that the seven mechanised boreholes at Kuni, Meindogu, Gundogu, Kpanjamba No. 1, Kpanjamba No. 2, Kparku and Dagbanja are currently operational and being used by residents. The decision to proceed with seven boreholes instead of the original ten was based on the unsuccessful drilling at Kpatua, Kamshegu and Guntingli and the need to redirect resources towards completing and mechanising the successful boreholes.
Officials from the SOCO infrastructure team in Accra, the Tamale Zonal Office and the Assembly inspected the affected communities and agreed that the project should be re‑costed to include the additional electricity and pipeline works. The Assembly further said The Fourth Estate did not contact the Yendi Municipal Assembly for its response before publishing the report, urging Ghanaians to disregard the same. Management said it remains available for further engagement and clarification on the project.
