Government Asked Not to Privatize Water

The Ghana National Coalition Against the Privatisation of Water (CAP of Water) on Monday urged the government to reverse its decision to privatize the water sector and allow for a broad debate on the issue so as to secure the right of all persons to potable water.

The Spokesman for the Coalition, Mr. Rudolf Amenga-Etego made the call at a press conference to brief newsmen on the outcome of the recently held two-day Water Privatization Forum in Accra.

He said water is an increasingly scarce natural resource, and as a result crucial to the security of society. In this regard he said efforts must be made to ensure that its ownership, control, management and delivery remain in the public domain.

He announced that the Coalition will soon conduct a broad-based campaign to ensure that every Ghanaian has access to adequate and affordable water by the year 2010. Amenga-Etego therefore called on the Donor Communities including the World Bank to de-link external assistance and soft loans to the condition of privatising the water system. He also called on the government to investigate models that enhance and promote local businesses in cooperation with communities, local government bodies and the Ghana Water Company Limited instead of rushing into the privatisation process.

He said government should be transparent in the process. "Publish the terms guiding the bidding process as well as the profile of the companies currently pre-qualified to bid. Put all relevant documents in the public domain, including World Bank mission, evaluation reports and project," he added.

He said all pressure groups and organisations including the Trades Union Congress, Ghana Journalists' Association and Parliament have a major role to play in the fight against deprivatisation of public utilities, adding that the Coalition rejects the view that privatization is the appropriate solution to the problems bedeviling the water sector.

The Chairman for the occasion was Mr. Charles Appiagyei of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled.

Meanwhile documents in The Accra Mail's possession allege that some of the companies bidding for Ghana's water have been charged with corrupt practices and inefficiency in their countries of origin.