By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Tarkwa (W/R), April 17, GNA-Three aspiring young women and their communities, have been recognized by the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, for their significant contributions in the water supply chain.
Madam Ayishetu Mohammed, Project Coordinator, Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Madam Roseline Dauri, Superintendent, Social Investment, Reporting, and Community Systems Management, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, and Madam Iris Tay, Environmental Manager, Ghana Manganese Company were those honoured
The communities were New Atuabo, Akyem, and Abompuniso in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, Vice Chancellor of the UMaT was also acknowledged for making global observation day celebrations a priority.
The event, organized by the Geology Department, faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Studies was part of the university’s activities to celebrate the 2026 World Water Day.
Speaking at the fifth edition, Dr. Kofi Adomako-Ansah, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said the theme for this year, “Water and Gender”,deserved special recognition and that they focused on the unique role women in the water supply chain had been involved.
He said this year’s celebration attracted the largest number of stakeholders in the water supply chain, adding, “As a team, it’s time to assess the impact of our activities from the inception of this celebration in the university till date”.
Dr. Kofi Adomako-Ansah, said with the assistance of their mining partners, they would continue to create, empower the local communities and deal with issues affecting the environment and water bodies.
Professor Amankwah recalled that “one thing that I did when we started this observance day was to try and create leaders by giving them authority. Out of this, we have created so many leaders around campus”.
“Now, as l am preparing to step down, am so confident that we have more leaders in the university to take us to our next level of development”.
Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Omidiji, Medical Superintendent of Nsuaem Government Hospital, indicated that oftentimes, the systems that governed water sidelined women and girls out of the decision making, leadership, funding, and representation.
She said this turned the water crisis into a woman’s issue; hence they needed a transformative rights-based approach to solve these challenges where women’s voices were heard and their agency recognized.
Dr. Omidiji suggested that women should be part of decisions made in water at every level, from designing policies and more.
Madam Sandra Deladem Woanyah, Project Manager, GFGF, noted that over the past 22 years, they have invested over GH¢ 2.57 million in empowering the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) teams across their host communities, to ensure sustainability.
This, according to her, reflected their continued commitment to supporting sustainable water systems that responded to real community needs and created long-term impact.
She said as part of their five-year development goals, they had set a target that at least 90% of their communities should have access to clean portable water.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/George-Ramsey Benamba