By Tanjong Samuel
At a time when communities are vying against each other for scarce resources like water, the people of Ntaghang and Upper Atua Azire in the Bamenda I and II Municipality have rather joined forces to confront a common challenge, access to portable water.
With support from the international Community of the Red Cross, ICRC, residents of both communities came together to create a shared water system, baptized a fountain of Peace and Clean Water.
The multi-million project officially handed over to the community on January 16, 2026 by ICRC officials contains two water reservoir of 150 and 65 cubic metres, 11 public stand taps distributed in both communities, 3 km of pipeline and two solar powered systems. The first, 5.5kw pumps water uphill to Ntaghang and a 9.2 kw system to ensure the reliability of the entire network.
Mr. Penn Emmanuel, President of the Management Committee described the project as a gift that “ends decades of water crisis” in the community. He said women and children trekked long distances with containers to fetch water adding it’s like a dream seeing running water near their homes. He pledged the community’s total support and protection of the project.
Ralf Kefelars, ICRC Bamenda Sub delegation head described the project as very personal to him and ICRC which has invested time and planning into realising it together with the communities. He said the joy the project brings to the community gives him reason to be here, away from comfort.
The project will benefit over 5000 residents in both communities. An important aspect of the project is that the communities with the support of the ICRC led in the designing, planning, management and daily operations of the water project. Environmental concerns remain a top priority of the project with trees planted around the water catchment to protect the soil and water table and clean solar energy.
A management committee bringing members from both communities including men, women the youths and elders have been set up to manage the project including to ensure fair access to water by all households, manage daily distribution, organise cleaning, carry out minor repairs, resolve issues through dialogue among others.
The fountain of peace Clean water also unusually unites two communities from two different subdivisions, Bamenda I and II and from two different villages Bamendankwe and Mankon, putting aside all differences and uniting behind a common basic need, clean portable water.
