Hon. Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah – Minister for MSWR

 The International World Water Day celebration is designated by UN to be commemorated on the 22 March of every year – drawing attention to global water crisis and raising awareness on the importance of fresh water resources.
Water means different things to different people and as such, this year’s event being organized by the Water Resources Commission (WRC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resource (MSWR), and the United Nations (UN) under the theme, “Valuing Water” had the following objectives:
1. To highlight the challenges in keeping our water resources safe and clean, and increasing access to potable drinking water,
2. To show the impact of government’s intervention in the water sector over the past four (4) years,
3. To call for collective efforts in finding suitable measures to the menace we are faced with.
Highlighting the challenges our water sources face, the Hon. Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah pointed particularly to the activities of illegal mining ‘galamsey’ as the major hurdle to cleaner and safer water sources. She therefore used the opportunity to call for the placement of higher value on protecting our water sources and the environment to ensure good quality water supply – prescribing and promoting local remedial interventions to reduce the pollution not only from illegal mining, but from other contributory sources such as improper liquid and solid waste disposal.
The sector minister in her statement to the press indicated that government’s interventions, despite the challenges, have resulted in the improvement of the ambient water quality i.e., from 39% in 2016 to 56.6% at the end of 2020 and that access to improved drinking water sources increased from 78% in 2017 to 81% in 2019.

The Hon. Minister reiterated government’s commitment to making significant new investments.

The Hon. Minister reiterated government’s commitment to making significant new investments – with the focus on bringing water to the homes of people through the Water for All Agenda.
To this end, an amount of about USD1.04 billion is being invested in about 8 urban water supply projects and 6 major rural water supply projects that are ongoing in the country and targeting about 4.87 million people to be served when completed. This, she said, will be reflected in the result of the next Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey.
In concluding her speech, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah explained that World Water Day was an opportunity for everyone to get involved since water is everybody’s business.
Supported by the UNESCO representative Mr. Diallo Abdourahamane, the Hon. Minister also officially launched the UN World Water Development Report 2021 with the theme ‘Valuing Water’ which assesses the current status of and challenges to the valuation of water across differing sectors and perspectives and identifies ways in which valuation can be promoted as a tool to help achieve sustainability.

UNESCO representative Mr. Diallo Abdourahamane and the Hon. Minister officially launched the UN World Water Development Report 2021

Left- Mr. Noah Tumfo (Chief Director- MSWR), Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Ben Yaw Ampomah (Executive Secretary – WRC), Stanley Martey (GWCL)

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources this morning  received donation of a number of Veronica buckets from the DPS Group, a plastic manufacturing company  in Accra.

                   

                                                                                              

Efforts by key stakeholders in the WASH Sector towards the attainment of Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in Ghana has received a major boost with the launch on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 of the Social Norms Advocacy Campaign.

The programme dubbed “Ghana Goes ODF” has the theme Changing Our Attitudes for a Clean and Healthy Ghana.

It was one of the major information programmes to be initiated by key industry players with the objective of ending Open Defecation in the country.

Launching the programme, the Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources and Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central, Hon. Patrick Boamah noted that the ODF Ghana Campaign was designed as an integral part of the Clean Ghana Campaign which was launched in November 2017 by the President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with focus on three key behaviours: open defecation, littering and open urinating.

He said the launch of the event was the last of six advocacy events geared towards rallying influential Ghanaians and the general public around the ODF Ghana agenda.

Hon. Patrick Boamah indicated that the elimination of open defecation is a global agenda outlined in SDG 6.2 which seeks to “by 2030 achieve access to adequate and equitable Sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations”.

Hon. Patrick Boamah stated that one of the opportunities the campaign provides is economic development. He said businesses under the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the Sanitation Sector has produced over 1,000 artisans and the establishment of latrine construction, material supplies as well as soap making and hand washing promotion, creating a source of livelihood for people.

The Deputy Minister reiterated the fact that whilst Government is taking the lead in its efforts, tackling open defecation should not be seen as a Government alone programme but as a collective national responsibility by every citizen. He commended the Pentecost Church for supporting the Police Post in Tatale with a toilet facility and also acknowledged the efforts of the sixty-six (66) champions who have been supporting the campaign with their own resources.

Hon. Patrick Boamah also commended other groups like the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (MCODE) and the various Development Partners, CSOs and WASH Sector Organizations.

The Deputy Minister further stated that per its mandate to lead the programme on sanitation, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources is committed to reviewing the Sanitation Policy and Institutional and Regulatory framework, developing a roadmap for achieving ODF and establishing the ODF Ghana Campaign as a National flagship programme. Hon. Patrick Boamah also announced the roll out of a National Sanitation league table system and the first expedition is expected to be launched in 2021. He indicated that as at July 2019, 5000 communities have been declared ODF from a figure of 410 as in 2017.

The Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Juabeng, Hon. Adjei Boateng pledged the support of his Ministry to ensure the success of the ODF Campaign.

The Chairman for the occasion Nana Kobiri Nketia appealed to all households to own their own toilets. He said open defecation anywhere is open defecation everywhere.

It is estimated that Ghana loses 79 million dollars annually on open defecation.

Individuals, Institutions and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies who have distinguished themselves in the fight against open defecation were given awards for their outstanding leadership.

The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah today opened the 7th International Conference on Climate change and Population at the Conference Hall of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.

The Theme for the Conference which will last for the next three days is Transforming Cities Resilient to Climate Change.

The Conference brought together key partners and stakeholders to examine critical issues of climate change and it’s impact on the development of Countries around the World ,especially Africa .

Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah informed her keynote address called for concerted efforts by the Global Community to address the challenges and threats of climate change.

She tasked the participants attending the Conference to come out with concrete roadmap to resilience, especially in Africa.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana advocated for effective Global partnership and collaboration by the International Community to tackle Climate Change.

The Mayor of Accra Metropolitan Assembly Hon. Nii Adjei Sowah enumerated the steps being taken by Government to implement the Paris Convention on Climate Change adopted at the 6th Conference.

The Conference will take place for the next three days.

Activities in Pictures

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has donated a set of Litter bins to ten selected Senior High Schools in Accra as part of the program of activities by the Ministry to promote Sanitation and Cleanliness in the Schools.

The presentation was made by Mr. Obeng Poku, Director 1 at the Ministry on behalf of the Sector Minister Hon. Cecelia Abena Dapaah.

He asked the School Authorities and the Students to take good care of the bins to promote it’s life span.
Mr. Obeng Poku commended the Schools for being the lucky ones because they are the first batch of Schools as beneficiaries of the project out of a host of other Schools.

He said their ability to to take good care of the bins will motivate the Ministry to donate to other Schools as well.

The bins were received on behalf of the Schools by Mr. Godson Dornyo, Senior Housemaster of Nungua Senior High School.

He thanked the Ministry for the kind gesture and pledged their commitment to take good care of the bins and to use them for their intended purpose.

Also present at the program were the Director of Finance / Administration at the Ministry, Mr. Joseph K. Amoah, Mr. Sampson Akwettey, of the Sanitation Directorate and other Senior Staff of the Ministry.

The beneficiary Schools include,

Methodist Senior High School
Aburi Girls Senior High School.
Labone Senior High School.
Accra Academy Senior High School.
Nungua Senior High School.
Achimota Senior High school.
St. Mary’s Senior High school.
Achimota Saint John Senior High school.
Accra Girls Senior High school and
Ashiaman Senior High school.

Activities in Pictures

The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah has disclosed that her tour to the Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) has been very successful and rewarding. The Sector Minister said this when she spoke to the media after the last leg of her tour to Ga South, Ga Central and Weija Assemblies on Wednesday October 23, 2019. The tour which started on September 10, 2019 saw the Minister accompanied by a team of officials visiting almost all the Assemblies. Out of the twenty three Assemblies, the Sector Minister had paid visits to twenty two of the Assemblies which ended on Wednesday October 23, 2019 to Ga South, Ga Central and the Weija Assemblies.

Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah. Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources and officials on a GAMA tour

Objectives. The objectives of the tour to the Assemblies were to meet with the leadership of the Assemblies, have a quick scan of the selected communities and attend community durbars at the various places to interact with the people. The tour also afforded the Sector Minister the opportunity to have first-hand information about the sanitation situation and challenges at the various Assemblies and to find out how the Ministry can work collectively with the Assemblies to address the challenges. The Sanitation Minister also inspected the various GAMA projects; completed or ongoing at the various Assemblies.

The tour came at the background of the declaration of the President H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa by the end of his term.

During the tour, it was quite revealing to see most of the communities clean, especially Kpone Katamanso and the Madina areas. The Sector Minister was impressed and congratulated the leadership of the Assemblies for a good work done. She however, urged them not to rest on their oars but to endeavor to sustain it.

Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s interaction with the market women especially was very fruitful. She admonished them to keep their foodstuff clean and tidy up their environment because poor sanitation at the market places has direct implication on the health of the people, which will also affect the nation’s productivity.

This has been the first major tour of the sector Minster within the GAMA.

One critical issue which came up for the attention of the Minister was the need by the Assemblies to enforce the bye-laws on Sanitation to make the President’s vision attainable. One other issue of critical attention which came up during the tour was the poor standard of the slaughter house at Jamestown where the Minister called for major clean-up. She also called on the butchers to avoid the use of old lorry tyres to burn the animals because of the health risks the practice poses to the consuming public. Another important outcome of the tour by the Sector Minister was the honour conferred on the National Chief Imam as the Chief Patron for the sanitation campaign.

The Minister was accompanied on the tours by the Deputy Minister Hon. Patrick Boamah (MP), Hon. Michael Gyato (MP), the Chief Director of the Ministry Mr. Noah Tumfo, Directors and other officials from the Ministry and the Agencies.

Activities in Pictures

Compiled by
Nelson Akatey
PR Unit

The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah has urged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to enforce the by-laws on sanitation in order to keep the country clean she said the country can also be cleaned if the Assemblies without fear or favor apply the laws to the letter.

Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah stated this when she paid a working visit to the Mallam-Atta market in New Town, a suburb of Accra to ascertain the sanitation situation in those areas. Touring some of the principal streets, the Minister was not happy about the dumping of refuse along the streets and into the drains.

She appealed to the shop owners to endeavor to keep their places neat because neatness of their environment will also attract customers. The Minister also took time to interact with the market women who were delighted to see her at the market. She told the women to keep their places clean because the women to keep their places clean because by virtue of their trade, they play very important roles in the hygiene value chain.

The Minister was also at the butcher’s shop to have a look at the slaughtered animals sold to the public. She told them to keep to the standards required before, during and after the slaughtering of the animal for sale.

Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah indicated that henceforth, the Food and Drugs Authority will enforce the laws and anybody found culpable will be sanctioned. She promised to pay regular visits to the market to see the level of cleanliness at the place.

Cecilia Abena Dapaah said it was the prerogative of the MMDCEs to ensure they enforce the by-laws and make it bite to serve as a deterrent to others who will break the law. The Minister was conducted round by Alhaji Hassan Salih; Chairman of the Sub-Metro, Dr. Bashiru Boi Kikimoto; Head of Public Health Veterinary Services of Ghana.

The Minister entourage includes the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry Joseph Obeng Poku and officials from the Ministry.

Compiled by
Nelson Kofi Akatey
PRO, MSWR

Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah has commended the Turkish government for the various projects in Ghana particularly the completion of the Akyem Oda Water project which is a great relief to the people. However, according to the Sector Minister, the people in the community cannot access the water because the pipe lines have not been laid. Ghana Water Company is therefore sourcing for funds to lay the pipelines and connect it to the people.

Consequently, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah advised that future collaboration plans should into consideration all the relevant aspects of the projects to make it complete.

Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah stated this when she received the Turkish Ambassador Her Excellency Ozkm Ergin at her office when the latter paid a courtesy call on her on Wednesday February 20, 2019 to discuss areas of cooperation and evaluate existing projects.

Sustainable use of Water. Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah noted that the main focus of every activity relating to water should be directed to the sustainable use of water. She said water is now becoming a scarce commodity worldwide and therefore there is the need for the prudent use of the resources.

Transfer of Technology. Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah asked Turkey to consider the transfer of technology to Ghana to build the country’s industrialization program especially in the light of the 1D1F (One District, One Factory) programme. She said this will create employment for the youth and build their capacity. Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah indicated that Ghanaian youth are hard working. All that they need is support.

On Galamsey:  Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah stated that the quality of our water bodies (resources) has improved significantly following the interventions put in place by government to address the issue. She said a committee would be out in place to ascertain the current level of turbidity.

 Sanitation. Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah said the major challenge in the sanitation sector is how to manage the waste and the ministry is coming out with strategies to tackle the challenge.

Engineering of landfill sites. Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah stated that Agbogbloshie and other places will be engineered; and to this end, a lot of companies have expressed interest in providing funds for the project.

Waste is wealth. Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah reiterated her call on the youth and companies to explore opportunities in the waste sector because waste is wealth and has a lot of prospects. She hoped the tenure of the Ambassador will see more cooperation between Ghana and Turkey.

The Ambassador H.E. Ozkm Ergin commended Ghana for taking the necessary steps towards achieving the SDGs. She pledged the support of Turkey I the developmental projects of Ghana.

By Nelson Kofi Akatey

A 15 member steering committee to steer the affairs of the Greater Accra Sustainable Sanitation and Livelihood Improvement Project has been inaugurated by the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah. The 15 Member Committee drawn up from various government institutions is under the chairmanship of the Sector Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

In her speech to formally inaugurate the steering committee, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah advised the members to discharge their duties responsibly and adhere strictly to the ethics and guidelines established to guide the operations of the project.

She tasked the members to oversee that all interventions under the project are in line with the Project Appraisal Report and that the Implementation Unit is appropriately monitored to deliver the results expected. She assured the members of her support to ensure they deliver on their mandate. She also indicated that the African Development Bank which is providing the loan facility for the project has agreed to extend the package to include the nine (9) newly created districts within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).

The GASSLIP is an intervention programme adopted by the ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources with the view to cleaning Accra and making Accra the neatest city in Africa as envisioned by the President. The primary objective of the project is to provide domestic and municipal level sanitation infrastructure, support skill development and livelihood as well as enhance the capacity of the sanitation service providers and the participating assemblies to better deliver and manage sanitation services with the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. (GAMA).

The project initially covers the 11 Sub- Metropolitan Areas. It was funded by the African Development Bank with a loan facility of US 48-85 million dollars for a four year project period. It is expected that the new additional nine sub-metros will also be added as beneficiary Metros.

By Nelson Kofi Akatey (PRO – Ministry Of Sanitation and Water Resources)