We will not any longer accept non-performance -Idris

Kumasi, July 5, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Minister of Works and Housing, has warned that his ministry will no longer accept non-performance from agencies under it.

He said once the government has provided them with the necessary resources, there was absolutely no reason they should not deliver quality services to the people.

"We will not take kindly to anybody who stands in our way". Alhaji Idris was addressing the Mole '15' conference and the first general meeting of the Ghana Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Water and Sanitation in Kumasi on Monday.

The theme for the conference, which is being attended by a number of NGO's and the country's development partners, was "Effective Partnership, Towards Achieving Water Sector Millennium Goals." He said his ministry has set for itself some benchmarks and these include ensuring total eradication of the guinea worm disease and addressing the endemic water problem at nerve centres like Adenta, Teshie and Maamobi, all in Accra.

Touching on the guinea worm disease, he said, it was a paradox that in spite of huge funds channelled into the fight against it, the problem still persists.

He therefore, called on the NGOs to work in close collaboration with the government to totally eradicate

Alhaji Idris pointed out that achieving the millennium development goals could remain a dream if the guinea worm infection was allowed to be with the people.

He gave the assurance that every needed efforts would be made to remove all traces of the disease infection in the country this year. The Minister also drew attention to the importance of protecting water bodies, saying, they should encourage good practices along water courses to ensure sustained water supply to all.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, called for a second look at the situation where the development partners insist on the contribution of a certain percentage of the total cost of water projects by beneficiary communities.

He said the idea although laudable for its promotion of a sense of ownership was problematic because some communities are so deprived that they cannot simply afford.