Community watered scheme handed to the Ntaghang and Atu-Azire Quarters
Within the last decade, young people, women and fathers had to roam around the Ntaghang and Atu-Azire quarters just to fetch portable drinking water.
Clean water now flows in Ntaghang and Atu-Azire
Residents of these quarters are witnessing a major transformation following the completion of a community water supply system delivered through a partnership between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and local residents.
The project, which will benefit more than 5,000 households directly, was officially commissioned in the presence of members of the community, Quarter heads and a representative from the Fondom of Bamendakwe, Friday 16th January 2026.
Ralf Ketelaars, Head of the ICRC Bamenda sub-delegation
Speaking on behalf of the ICRC, Ralf Ketelaars, Head of the ICRC Bamenda Sub-Delegation, described the project as both symbolic and deeply personal. He said the initiative began several years ago under the leadership of a former ICRC colleague who worked closely with the community to rehabilitate the water supply after some disruptions.
“This project carries a special meaning for us,” Ketelaars said. “It required courage, planning and strong community cooperation to continue after a tragic incident claimed the life of our colleague. What makes this achievement remarkable is that it is not an ICRC project alone, it belongs to the community.”
Ketelaars emphasized that beyond the physical infrastructure, the project fostered collaboration between neighbouring communities with differing interests, enabling joint planning and shared ownership of the water system.
Valentine Nkofo, Project Engineer
The newly constructed system is powered by a solar pump and by gravity, according to Valentine Nkofo, project engineer at the ICRC Bamenda Sub-Delegation.
Nkofo explained that Upper Atu-Azire receives water directly through gravity, while Ntaghang and parts of Upper Atu-Azire are supplied via a 5.5-kilowatt solar-powered pump supported by a 9.2-kilowatt solar array. The system feeds two reservoirs with a combined storage capacity of over 200 cubic meters and supplies 11 public stand taps through a three-kilometer pipeline network.
“This is a smart and resilient system,” Nkofo said. “Water quality was verified through historical use and confirmed by an accredited laboratory approved by the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy. The water is safe for consumption.”
He added that while the system is operational, monitoring and additional environmental protection works including the construction of a retaining wall around the major reservoir are ongoing, with the first phase expected to conclude within two months.
For the population, the impact is already life changing.
Awah Emmanuel Penn, President of the Management Committee
Awah Emmanuel Penn, president of the Ntaghang and Upper Atu-Azire Water Management Committee, said the project has ended decades of daily struggle, particularly for children who once trekked long distances down steep slopes to fetch water.
“We never imagined seeing water at our doorsteps,” Penn said. “Children used to fight at water points and return home injured. Today, that suffering is over.”
The President said access to clean water will significantly reduce health risks and household burdens. He noted that the community is currently using public stand taps and eventually , the scheme will be opened to private households.
The population of Ntaghang and Atu-Azire
The scheme has a strong water pressure and flow rate and gives the assurance that the system's sustainability is guaranteed.
The population has promised to protect the project and manage the water in a sustainable manner so as to ensure a healthy living.
By
Ndi Tsembom Elvis
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