12th of April, 2019 The Government of Japan and the Kolonga Village Water Committee celebrated the completion of their Upgrade Water Supply System funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects, known as the GGP, on Thursday, 11 April 2019. His Excellency Mr. Tetsuya Ishii, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan and Mrs. Ishii attended the handover ceremony together with Lord Nuku, Estate Holder of Kolonga and Nobles Representative. Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Minister for Finance and People’s Representative for Tongatapu #10, Aloma Johansson, Honorary Consul of Sweden to Tonga and other guests were also present at the ceremony.
Ambassador Ishii was pleased with the successful completion of the project so that the people of Kolonga can have access to clean and stable water supply. He reiterated that Japan’s GGP is a direct grant scheme to meet various needs at the grass-roots level and encourage its sustainable development in order to ensure that more people can have access to basic human needs.
Lord Nuku thanked the Ambassador and the Government of Japan for upgrading Kolonga village water supply system, whereby over 1000 residents will now have access to a reliable, sustainable water supply.
Kolonga Village Water Committee sought for Japan’s assistance to replace a deteriorating water pump system. Japan’s assistance was formalized with a grant amount of USD$64,908, last year in March which funded the installation of two new diesel water pump systems, additional new water tank, additional tank stand, replacement of main pipes and a new foundation for the existing pump house.
Japan’s GGP was introduced in 1990 to respond directly to the basic human needs at the grass-roots level and so far over 280 projects have been implemented in the Kingdom. The assistance epitomized Japan’s commitment to support efforts by the people and the Government of Tonga to ensure Human Security and continue to enrich the existing warm and close relations between the people and the Government of Japan and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Attachment: Project Factsheet & Photos
Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP)
Project Fact Sheet
Photos
the handover ceremony for the upgraded water supply system for Kolonga Village
ENDS
For further enquires please contact: The Embassy of Japan in Tonga. Level 5, National Reserve Bank of Tonga Building / Telephone: 22-221 / Fax 27-025