Australia leading the change for women in Ghana

Media Release

8 March 2015

An Australian-funded program is saving and transforming lives in Akuapem North District, Eastern Region, and in Shai Osu Doku District and Ablekuma Sub-Metro, Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

With funding from the Australian Government under the Australia Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES), WaterAid has provided more than 7,000 people access to safe and sustainable water, appropriate sanitation and safer hygiene practices.

“Supporting vulnerable communities in Ghana to access safe drinking water in a hygienic environment has been a lifeline, particularly for women and children”, said Graeme Dickson, Acting Australian High Commissioner to Ghana. He observed that the success stories shared through the Australian-funded project show that communities are more able to drive their own development when they receive the appropriate tools, such as those provided through WaterAid.

Australia’s support through WaterAid promotes an enabling environment so that people from marginalised communities, particularly women, children and people with disability, have better access to water, sanitation and hygiene services and greater influence and engagement with decision makers.

In Ablekuma Sub-Metro, Shai Osu Doku and Akuapem North Districts, the construction of rainwater harvesting systems, iron removal plants, and water kiosks has increased access to safe and clean water for more than 6,000 people. Over 1,000 children have benefitted with access to sanitation through the provision of institutional latrines at selected schools. The capacity of schoolchildren has also been strengthened through school-based hygiene promotion activities, where school hygiene clubs are formed to provide peer learning among schoolchildren.

Beatrice Munyo, a pupil in Okyerekrom village recounted how her life has changed. “Initially we found it very difficult to get to a potable and reliable source of water. We had to walk for miles before getting water to bath, which often made us late for school. Sometimes, we were punished by teachers who did not have the slightest idea of the difficulties we had to go through to get water to wash with before going to school. But there is now a relief because we have a borehole as well as a rain harvesting tank to store rainwater for use by the whole community.” Beatrice continued, “Now, people have toilets in their homes and they observe good sanitation practices. We are now free from a lot of sickness.”

Through its Endogenous Development approach, the project has empowered women from marginalised communities to identify and demand their rights and as well participate actively in community decision making processes. Nearby communities are learning from the positive experiences of their neighbours. Communities, including Tadankro, are now installing Queen Mothers (female chiefs) and youth leaders to help drive change. Installing Queen Mothers to help drive community development demonstrates that women are increasingly gaining the respect and power to influence policy and practices within their own communities. Evaluation of the AACES project has shown that granting an inclusive access, particularly of women, to community resources and institutions provides essential drivers for a long term socio-economic progress.

Notes to Editors

About AACES

AACES is a partnership of the Australian Government, ten Australian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and their Africa-based partners. The 90 million Australian dollar program is funded by the Australian Government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The program focuses on marginalised communities, with particular attention to women, children, people with disability and people vulnerable to disaster. It is being implemented in 11 African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

For media enquiries, please contact +233 302 216 400 or accrahc.media@dfat.gov.au

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Telephone: +233 (0)302 216 400 | Fax: +233 (0)302 216 410

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Reuben Kyama | President | One World Public Relations |