By Samuel Dodoo
Accra, Sept. 16, GNA-Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources has urged stakeholders in the sector to renew their commitment to the Ministry’s mission of ensuring universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
“It is important for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to achieving universal access to safe water, improved sanitation, and better hygiene for all Ghanaians and to chart a course that will accelerate our progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal ‘6’ and beyond,” she stated
She said: “This commitment should extend beyond mere words. It should reflect on our strategy development, planning and more importantly on our resource allocation.
Madam Alhassan said the journey to increase access to water, sanitation and hygiene in Ghana had just started and that everybody needed to put their shoulders to the wheel as millions of unserved and underserved Ghanaians could not wait any longer for these basic and yet vital services.
Madam Alhassan gave the advice at a high-level meeting to present to stakeholders the 2024 Ghana Presidential Compact on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for adoption and implementation.
The Compact was signed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
She said the commitments made in the Presidential Compact represented a comprehensive and ambitious agenda for transforming the WASH sector in Ghana, adding; “I know these commitments are bold, but achievable with your support and deep collaboration.”
The Minister said to support the sector efforts, the Government of Ghana has committed to investing an estimated US$1.7 billion in annual tranches to meet Sustainable Development Goal ‘6’ by 2030 and beyond.
“This is coordinated with the targets set in the Ghana WASH Sector Development Programme. The significant financial commitment underscores the priority as a sector, we place on WASH and our determination to increase and sustain access to services in Ghana,” she noted.
Madam Alhassan said, however, that government action alone was not enough to meet these commitments, stressing; “We therefore need the active participation and support of all stakeholders – development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, and most importantly, the traditional leaders as well as the communities we serve.”
The Minister told the participants that as civil society groupings in the sector “As we leave this high-level meeting today, let us do so with a renewed sense of purpose and urgency towards attaining all the commitment made in this Compact.
She said the current WASH service delivery required a change in thinking, and that the tenet of the Presidential Compact encouraged stakeholders to embrace a more circular economic focus in approach.
“It would require us to move away from the traditional linear model to a rather more sustainable, efficient, and we are in this fight of ensuring everyone living in every corner of this dear country of ours, has access to water, sanitation and hygiene services,” she stated.
Madam Alhassan noted that WASH has become a fundamental human right and it is important for us to double our steps in bridging the wide gap in access, especially in the sanitation sub-sector.
“To these people, who still do not have access, it means illnesses, absence from school, lack of convenience and dignity, walking long distances leading to loss of livelihood and economic opportunities, `environmental challenges and what have you. We do not have to fail these people. The doors of the ministry are open, for together we can go far,” Madam Alhassan stated.
The Minister gave the assurance that the Ministry would continue to create the enabling environment for the WASH private sector players as they are seen as crucial partners in the WASH journey, saying; “Your innovation, efficiency, and resources are welcome, in addressing our WASH challenges.”
“I believe the signing of the Presidential Compact on WASH has given us yet another good springing board to deliver even more, to enable our country to get closer to our national and by extension international targets,” she said.
Madam Alhassan expressed gratitude to the President for honouring the global promise made last year.
GNA