Sanitation Authority, Fund coming – Bawumia

The government has initiated the process toward the establishment of a National Sanitation Authority as well as a National Sanitation Fund to address the country's sanitation and water challenges.

Announcing this on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 at Ho in the Volta Region, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said the government is convinced that the establishment of the Authority and the Fund would be a game-changer in the national water and sanitation effort.

"In order to effectively coordinate efforts at improving the sanitation situation in Ghana, the government has activated the process toward the establishment of a National Sanitation Authority together with a National Sanitation Fund.

"We are convinced that the Authority will give our efforts significant focus, attract the requisite human capacity and mobilise resources for improved sanitation services delivery in Ghana," he said.

Dr Bawumia made the disclosure when he gave the opening address at the four-day 30th Mole WASH Conference taking place in the Volta Regional capital, Ho.

The Mole Conference, which has been held consistently for the past 30 years, brings together stakeholders in water and sanitation to deliberate on Ghana’s challenges and proffer suggestions that help shape policy. This year's conference is under the theme "30 Years of Multi-Stakeholder WASH Dialogue: Reflections and Prospects."

Dr Bawumia emphasised that the Akufo-Addo government’s commitment to issues of water and sanitation, is evidenced in the creation, for the first time, of a Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.

"3,350 water and sanitation projects are also either ongoing or have been completed under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), popularly known as the One Constituency-One Million Dollar pledge. A majority of these projects are to address the provision of water and toilets across every district in Ghana", he added.

He urged the participants at the conference to come up with suggestions to address the challenges faced by the country, emphasising: "The quality of life we want in our communities has a close connection with how we manage water and sanitation matters. To live in a good society and in well-managed water, sanitation and hygienic environment is something we should all wish for ourselves and our children.

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, outlined a number of ongoing activities to address the sanitation challenge, including the ongoing provision of 20,000 waste bins across the country, and a collaboration with the security agencies to protect the nation's water resources.