Joseph Tetteh, deputy eastern regional minister
The deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Joseph Tetteh has called on Ghanaians to increase water-use efficiency in homes and industries.
He disclosed this in a speech read on his behalf during the celebration of 2018 World Water Day at New Somanya yesterday.
“As Government, Policymakers, Opinion Leaders, Stakeholders and Citizens, we must make every effort to increase water-use efficiency across all homes and sectors and also to protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
Residents were joined by his special aid, Mr. Charles Katey Adabah to honor the observation of 2018 world water day organized by Drink Safe Water Ghana under the theme, “nature based –solutions to water”.
Even though the Municipal Chief Executive of Yilo Krobo, Hon. Ebenezer Tetteh Kupualor was invited, he failed to attend however furnished that, another important regional office assignment has taken him off.
The former MCE, Honorable Andrews Obu Sodah turned up to deliver a message. He shared his plight for lack of water in the area, and asked that the assembly consider connecting them. He also called for attitudinal changes to water and environment.
Since 1993, the United Nations communities and the world on every 22nd day of March mark activities to commemorate the world’s commitment to protect water resources and make it accessible and safe for all.
The observation brought together about a thousand people including students of the Methodist School, Mr. Krampah, manager of Akorley water works – Ghana Water Company Limited, Dr. E.K Danso (Geriatrics) – Ridge hospital and managing editor for “The Ageing Ghanaian” newspaper, chiefs and opinion leaders.
It was jointly organized with support from Health Top Up Services, S.H.E.P, Municipal Council of Churches, Green Coast Group and Consult, Chiefs and Opinion leaders of the community, Pinaro mineral water, volta ice, E –Cares mineral water, All partners had the opportunity to deliver their goodwill messages for the day to the audience.
For instance, Health Top Up Services led discussions into the need to treat contaminated water with aquatabs to avoid water-related diseases like cholera and dysentery with Green Coast Group and Consult delivering a speech on tree planting for the conservation of water.
Chairman for the occasion, Mr. Godfred Ceasar, Coordinator for School Health Education Programme at Lower Manya Krobo congratulated participants and reiterated that, the day was important for deliberations on sustainable development through information and education.
He continued that, life depended much on what we drink, safety precautions needed to be taken to avoid pollution of water resources and the environment. “People only become sick when their water or environment is endangered”.
Executive Coordinator, Mr. Krobea Asante thanked the President of DSWG, Dr. Paul Adjei Onyina and Ambassadors for their immense support towards the organization and the event, he delivered in the purpose of meeting that, many efforts have been made on improving quality of water since the Mar del Plata UN Conference on environment in 1977, until 1992 when a final recommendation was proposed for the first celebration in 1993.
With all these years and efforts, we are glad today we join to celebrate the Silver Jubilee in 2018 having been in the frontier on 1st July, 2017 with our volunteers doing education and awareness creation on safe water and sanitation.
He mentioned that, safe water for people is a fundamental human rights and that citizens need to hold in high esteem to resolve all barriers that stand to suppress them from enjoying the right to water, he added that, every Ghanaian was entitled to 20 litres of water every day.
“Safe water must be free from pollutants, but in Ghana we call anything pure, we must address this from point of production and understand that we are what we take in”.
These are expressions of Dr. Edmund Danso from Ridge hospital, he advised that drinking water often has the potential of resourcing the body with all required food nutrients.
He advised the aged to drink more often too to avoid dehydration.
