Ghana has made significant gains in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), in the past six years to ensure that millions of Ghanaians have greater access to safe drinking water and toilet facilities.
According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, the number of households that currently have access to toilet facilities has increased from 33% to 59.3%. The percentage of households with access to basic drinking water has seen a significant improvement from 79% in 2018 to 87.7% in 2021.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who made these known on Wednesday, said the improvements had resulted in very significant gains, adding: “for instance, not a single case of cholera has been recorded in the past six years.”
The Vice President, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the ‘All Systems Go Forum’ organized by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, said the government had shown commitment to addressing the water and sanitation needs of Ghanaians while meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“As the Co-Chair of the Sustainable Development Goals, His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has demonstrated adequate commitment to ensuring that Ghana meets the 2030 Agenda for the SDGs, with equal emphasis on SDG 6, within the stipulated time
“This is reflected in the many projects being undertaken in the WASH sector, some of which are already completed and commissioned, whilst processes are ongoing for the others.
“Some of the projects are Upper East Water Supply Project; Yendi Water Supply Project; Tamale Water Supply Project; Damongo Water Supply Project; Wenchi Water Supply Project and Sunyani Water Supply Project.
The rest are Keta Water Supply Project; Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Project; and additional financing for the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA)/Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area Water and Sanitation Project.”
The interventions in the water sub-sector, according to Dr Bawumia, are expected to give additional 4.3 million Ghanaians access to potable water.
The Vice President commended the organizers and partners for the Symposium – IRC, UNICEF and the Conrad Hilton Foundation – for the programme, saying its conception and organization provide ample testimony that African WASH Experts are alive to their responsibilities.
He said the Symposium was being organised at a crucial time in Africa’s development when the population of Africa kept rising, with its attendant high demand for WASH-related services which have not kept pace with the increasing population.
Dr Bawumia said there was an urgent need for action to strengthen the African WASH planning and capabilities to strengthen the sector for effective service delivery to the growing population.
There was the need to continue to improve the traditional approach adopted in the past to yield better results, the Vice President stated.
Dr Bawumia made an urgent call to African Leaders and WASH Experts to deepen their collaboration to address issues in the sector.
“It is also imperative, as a Continent, to tap into the unique experiences, skills and stock of knowledge of our Experts to help chart a new course for improved WASH service delivery,” the Vice President stated.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
