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The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah has launched the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme (GWASHSDP) which aims at ensuring an effective coordination and implementation of WASH activities in the Ghana.
The Programme which seeks to achieve at least universal basic WASH services by 2030 for everyone living and working in Ghana, provides the framework for inclusive sector planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting for sustainable and universal water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.
Hon. Dapaah, in her speech, mentioned that, Ghana’s strategic goal is to enhance access to equitable WASH services throughout the country, using a multi-faceted approach, and placed emphasis on Governance and Sector institutional strengthening to improve service delivery and increase the sustainability of WASH services.
The Minister therefore advised sector players and partners to use the document as a guide in developing programmes and projects for implementation.
According to her Government in collaboration with WASH Development Partners, is working assiduously to mobilize the required resources to ensure increased access to WASH services in Ghana.
Ms. Dapaah used the occasion to thank the World Bank Group for financing the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) Sanitation and Water Projects.
She recounted some transformative WASH initiatives that have been implemented over the past years, disclosing that in the rural water sub-sector, there are ongoing reforms to transition the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) from a facilitator to a rural water utility which is a key Government Reform Agenda that would help overcome the remaining service delivery challenges that persist in rural communities.
“We are committed to ensuring that all people living in Ghana have access to adequate, safe, affordable, and reliable basic water service, practice safe sanitation and hygiene”, she added.
The Minister said “currently, population with access to basic drinking water services has increased from 79% in 2017/2018 to 87.7% in 2021. Population with access to improved toilet facilities, including public toilets has also increased from 66% to 80.8% within the same period. The Government, through the MSWR is investing an amount of US$ 1.4 billion in several water and sanitation projects nationwide”.
The Global Director for Water Practice Group of the World Bank Mr. Saroj Kumar Jha, who was the Guest Speaker, on his part expressed appreciations to the Government of Ghana for doing everything possible to make water safe and accessible to all Ghanaians.
He opined that, it is great to have ideas but without funds the work cannot be done and assured participants of World Bank’s continues support to the Government of Ghana.
