Eastern

THE EASTERN REGION

ING. JOHN ERIC KWOFIE

Regional Chief Manager

Ing. John Eric Kwofie is a Professional Engineer with specialisation in Urban Hydraulics and Sanitary Engineering, Groundwater Resources Management, and Integrated Water Resources Planning and Management.

He holds a Master of Science degree in Water Resources Engineering and Management from the University Stuttgart, Germany. He also has to his credit a Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Until then, he held a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering also from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Until his appointment as a Chief Manager responsible for Volta Regional Operations in May 2021, he was a Manager in charge of Operations at the Head Office, Accra.

Ing. Kwofie joined GWCL as an Engineer in the year 2007 under the erstwhile Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), Head Office Operations, Accra. Whiles with AVRL, he performed several roles including Groundwater Resources Manager, Pro-Poor Project Manager, Production and Distribution Manager respectively. Until then, he worked as a Regional Coordinator with the German Technical Cooperation’s (GTZ) Water Supply projects in the Eastern and Volta Regions of Ghana, between the year 2004 and 2007, of which 37 communities benefitted.

He has also worked as a Production Manager between the year 2013 and 2019 in the Central and Volta Regions of Ghana.

He is a Senior member of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), and has over 17 years of experience in the water sector, with emphasis on both rural and urban water operations and management.

THE EASTERN REGION

The Eastern Region occupying a land area of 19,323 square km is the sixth largest region in terms of land area. Within a total population of 2,106 (2000 population census) it is the third most populous region after Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions.

The region has 26 political districts with Koforidua as the regional capital.

Climate

The region lies within the wet semi-equatorial zone, which is characterized by double maxima rainfall in June and October. The first rainy season is from May to June while the second season is from September to October.

Physical Features

The region has four main geographical features, namely:

The Kwahu scarp with an elevation of 788 meters above sea level

The Atiwa Atwaredu Ranges near Kibi with an elevation of 731 meters

The Akwapim highland attaining an elevation of 466 meters

The isolation hills/mountain dotting the relatively low-lying plains to the south, notably the Krobo and the Yogaga mountains.

The Kwahu scarp and the Atiwa-Atwaredu ranges from the major watershed of the region. It is from these that the major rivers such as the Pra, Birim and the Densu take their source. These rivers and the Volta lake which covers part of the region have high potential for irrigation, farming, inland fishing, water transport as well as source of drinking water for both urban and rural settlements.

Water Supply Systems

Twenty-four (24) water supply systems are currently operational in the region. The system at Achiase has just been rehabilitated. Akim Ofoase system broke down over 30 years ago and is being rehabilitated under the SYIP. The boreholes at Kibi and Aburi supplement the existing systems in Kibi and Akwapim respectively.

The systems are grouped under nine (9) GWCL districts as follows

New Juaben District: Koforidua Old Treatment and new Headworks at Bukunor
Nsawam District: Nsawam and Asamankese
Krobo District: Anum Boso and Krobo area served by Kpong Old works
Akwapim District: Akwapim area served by Kpong Old works through Akorley and Adukrom Boosters
Tafo District: Akim Tafo, Begoro, Osino, Bunso, Anyinam and Kwabeng
Kwahu District: Nkawkaw and Kwahu Ridge served from Kotoso Headworks
Suhum District: Suhum Kibi and Apedwa/Asafo
Oda District: Akim Oda, Akim Swedru, Aboabo and Asene
Kade District: Kade, Asuom and Osenenase