500 Students in Ghana Get Clean Water, New Borehole

Students at Vakpo E.P. Primary School in Ghana's Volta Region no longer have to worry about finding clean water during their school day.

A newly commissioned borehole and storage system now serves more than 500 pupils with safe drinking water, handwashing facilities, and sanitation support. Before this April 2026 project, students and teachers faced daily struggles accessing clean water, raising serious concerns about disease and hygiene.

The Jaques family from Baltimore, Maryland, funded 65 percent of the project cost, with the nonprofit Mayekoo and individual donors covering the rest. Twellium Industrial Company, which produces Verna Mineral Water, provided refreshments for the April 10 commissioning ceremony.

The project included drilling a 100-meter deep borehole and installing a 450-gallon water storage tank. Robert Mills-Lamptey of Mayekoo described the intervention as far more than infrastructure.

"This borehole is an investment in the health, education, and dignity of every child at this school," Mills-Lamptey said at the ceremony. "When students no longer have to worry about something as basic as access to water, they are better able to focus, learn, and thrive."

Traditional leaders, religious figures, school staff, and community members gathered to celebrate the completion. The headteacher, local pastor, church elders, and representatives of the area chief all attended the event recognizing this milestone for student welfare.

The Ripple Effect

Clean water access does more than quench thirst. Students can now wash their hands properly, reducing illness and school absences that disrupt learning. Teachers can maintain better hygiene standards throughout the school day. Families no longer worry about their children's health while at school.

The project adds to growing efforts across Ghana to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in rural schools, where lack of basic infrastructure continues affecting student attendance and wellbeing. Mayekoo, a U.S.-registered charity, partners with local organizations to implement community projects throughout Africa.

Mills-Lamptey emphasized that long-term success depends on community commitment to maintain the system for future generations of students.

One representative from Twellium put it simply: "Clean water is not a luxury; it is a necessity." For 500 students in Vakpo, that necessity is now a daily reality.