WellsForAll Africa Completes 26th Borehole in Ghana, Bringing Safe Water to Over 800 People

A new mechanised borehole in Mantukwa, Ashanti Region, has replaced unsafe water sources and reduced the time residents spend fetching water from about 30 minutes to just a few minutes.

WellsForAll Africa, a Ghanaian-led non-profit organisation providing sustainable clean-water infrastructure to underserved rural communities, has completed its 26th borehole, bringing access to safe and reliable drinking water to an estimated 800 to 950 people in Mantukwa, a rural farming community in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.

The newly installed mechanised borehole is expected to significantly improve access to clean water while reducing the burden on women, schoolchildren and other residents who previously depended on unprotected streams, rivers and rainwater for their daily water needs.

Before the project, some residents had to travel approximately 30 minutes to collect water from sources that were not considered safe for consumption. The situation placed additional demands on families, particularly women and school-aged children, who often bore responsibility for fetching water.

With the new water system located within the community, some residents can now access water within minutes of their homes, saving valuable time that can be devoted to education, farming, household responsibilities and other productive activities.

Modern Water Infrastructure to Improve Access

The mechanised borehole was drilled to a depth of 120 metres and fitted with a 1.5-horsepower electric submersible pump.

The system pumps water into a 3,000-litre overhead storage tank, providing a storage facility designed to support water distribution within the community.

Water samples from the borehole were independently tested, with results showing no detectable E. coli or coliform bacteria. The tested parameters were also reported to be within World Health Organization (WHO) limits.

The results provide an important indication of the water’s safety and quality, helping to address concerns about the risks associated with consuming water from unprotected sources.

For a community where access to safe drinking water has been a longstanding challenge, the project represents a significant improvement in essential infrastructure and everyday living conditions.

WellsForAll Founder Highlights Community Ownership

Founder of WellsForAll Africa, Samuel Owusu-Boadi, described the completion of the 26th borehole as more than an infrastructure achievement, emphasising the importance of sustainable access to clean water and community participation.

“Borehole #26 means far more to Mantukwa than simply having a new piece of water infrastructure,” he said.

“For years, families have depended on unsafe water sources, with children having to leave school and spend valuable time walking to collect water. Now, safe water is within minutes of their homes and school. But our responsibility doesn’t end when the water starts flowing.

“We want every borehole we build to belong to the community, with local people involved in managing and maintaining it so that it continues serving families for generations. That is what sustainable access to clean water should look like.”

His comments underscore the organisation’s approach of combining infrastructure development with community involvement to ensure that water facilities remain functional and beneficial long after construction is completed.

US-Based Pflaum Family Funds $8,792 Project in Honour of Daughter

The US$8,792 borehole project was fully funded by the US-based Pflaum family and dedicated to their daughter, Gracie, whose charitable journey began at the age of 11.

Motivated by a desire to help people in need, Gracie founded an initiative called A Touch of Grace, built around the belief that everyone matters and that those who have the means to help others should do so.

Through the initiative, she has supported people experiencing homelessness through practical outreach activities, including distributing hot meals and care packages.

The Mantukwa borehole extends that spirit of generosity beyond the United States to a rural Ghanaian community in need of reliable access to clean water.

A permanent plaque has been installed at the borehole site in honour of Gracie and her A Touch of Grace initiative.

The Pflaum family said the project offered an opportunity to translate their daughter’s commitment to helping others into a lasting intervention capable of improving the daily lives of hundreds of people.

“We chose to support this project because we wanted our contribution to make a tangible difference in people’s everyday lives. Dedicating this borehole to our daughter Gracie felt especially fitting since it is in honour of her own hands-on outreach work, A Touch of Grace, which was feeding the homeless in our area,” the family said.

They added that WellsForAll’s mission reflected Gracie’s belief that everyone matters and that opportunities to help others should be embraced.

“The WellsForAll mission mirrors Gracie’s own belief that everyone matters and, when you have an opportunity to help someone, you should. Now reaching across the world to a community that needed clean water is proof that kindness doesn’t stop at a border, and that a child’s conviction can ripple further than anyone expects is an amazing and lasting legacy.

“To see that belief become something as permanent and important as clean water for an entire community is very special to us. Knowing that more than 800 people in Mantukwa will now have access to clean water, and that children will no longer have to miss school to make the long journey to collect water that may not be safe to drink, makes this incredibly meaningful to our family.

“Thank you, Samuel, and the WellsForAll team, as we could not have partnered with a more impactful or forward-thinking charity.”

The family’s contribution highlights the potential of individual philanthropy and cross-border partnerships to support community development and address essential needs in underserved areas.

Traditional Leadership and Water Management Committee Support Sustainability

Beyond the construction of the borehole, WellsForAll has engaged Mantukwa’s traditional leadership, including Chief Nana Frank Oppong Kyekyeku II, to promote local participation and long-term sustainability.

The organisation has also established a community Water Management Committee to support the operation, management and maintenance of the facility.

The committee is expected to play an important role in overseeing the water system and its maintenance arrangements, helping ensure that the infrastructure continues to serve residents effectively.

The approach reflects WellsForAll’s commitment to community ownership, recognising that the long-term success of rural water projects depends not only on the quality of the infrastructure but also on the involvement of the people who rely on it.

Chief Nana Frank Oppong Kyekyeku II expressed gratitude to the organisation and the project’s sponsors, describing the intervention as a major relief for residents.

“We are truly grateful that this project has successfully eliminated the 30-minute journey previously required to collect water that was not safe for consumption,” he said.

“The schoolchildren, farmers and women in our community are all delighted by this transformation. We have experienced unfulfilled promises in the past, so the commitment shown by WellsForAll has truly exceeded our expectations.

“May the Pflaum family be blessed for their generous gesture towards people they have never met. The names on the plaque will be cherished by every member of our community forever.”

The chief’s remarks reflect the community’s appreciation for the project and the importance of delivering practical interventions that respond directly to residents’ needs.

WellsForAll Africa Expands Clean-Water Mission Across Rural Ghana

The completion of borehole number 26 also marks the first official water project delivered since the initiative evolved into WellsForAll Africa, a registered non-profit organisation.

Between 2022 and 2025, the organisation raised and deployed approximately US$191,000 towards clean-water infrastructure projects.

With the completion of the Mantukwa borehole, WellsForAll says it has now delivered 26 community water points, benefiting more than 20,000 people across rural Ghana, principally in the Ashanti and Northern regions.

The figures highlight the organisation’s growing role in efforts to improve access to safe drinking water in communities where essential water infrastructure remains limited.

Reliable access to clean water is vital to public health, education and economic activity. By bringing water sources closer to households, projects such as the Mantukwa borehole can also reduce the time spent collecting water and ease some of the daily pressures faced by women and children.

However, maintaining these gains will depend on effective community management, regular maintenance and the availability of resources to keep the facilities operational.

Buoyem Next as More Than 50 Communities Await Clean-Water Projects

WellsForAll Africa’s next planned borehole project is in Buoyem, in Ghana’s Bono East Region.

The organisation says more than 50 communities are currently on its waiting list for clean-water infrastructure, highlighting the continuing demand for reliable water supplies in underserved rural areas.

As WellsForAll expands its work, the Mantukwa project stands as an example of how collaboration between non-profit organisations, private donors, traditional authorities and local communities can help address basic development needs.

For the people of Mantukwa, the completion of borehole number 26 represents more than a new water facility. It marks a practical change in their daily lives, bringing water closer to home, reducing the time required to collect it and offering families improved access to a resource essential to their health and well-being.

About WellsForAll Africa

WellsForAll Africa is a Ghanaian-led non-profit organisation delivering sustainable clean-water infrastructure to underserved rural communities. Its model combines borehole construction with community ownership, ongoing maintenance arrangements and transparent project reporting.

WellsForAll has delivered 26 community water points across rural Ghana, benefiting more than 20,000 people. Its projects are documented publicly, including project budgets, construction progress and completion information, as part of the organisation’s commitment to transparent and accountable development.