World Vision, partners mark World Water Day

Talli (N/R), March 23, GNA – World Vision (WV) has recommended that all stakeholders in water and energy sectors work together to reduce the existing gaps for adequate supply of water and energy to communities.

Mr James Asedem, Operations Base Team Leader in-charge of Savelugu Operations of WV, who gave the recommendation, said there was the need for appropriate responses and frameworks that accounted for both water and energy priorities of communities.

He was speaking at this year’s World Water Day celebration organized by WV, an international organization focusing on water and energy supply, at Talli in the Tolon District of the Northern Region on Saturday.

Some partners that joined WV to mark the day at Talli included Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Christian Children Fund of Canada, Ghana Health Service and the Tolon District Assembly.

World Water Day is earmarked by the United Nations and celebrated globally to promote water resources.

Mr Asedem regretted that despite significant advances in other sectors of society, not much progress had been made in the water and energy sectors, “even though we acknowledge water and energy as equivalent to life, wealth and health.”

He said records showed that access to water, hygiene and sanitation could positively impact on almost all the barriers to preventing the realization of optimum development of communities.

He, therefore, recommended that “Government and partners ensure interactive dialogue among all stakeholders around possible solutions to the water and energy challenges of our communities.”

He said there was need to promote environmentally sound interventions in manufacturing and industry, for effective and significant reduction in environmental degradation which impacted negatively on water and energy supply.

Mr Asedem called for continuous awareness creation on water and energy, for the eradication of poverty and to create a future for generations to come.

Mr Nicolas Nii Abbey, Public Relations Officer of the Northern Region Office of GWCL announced that GWCL was considering plans to build additional water treatment plants in the region to improve water supply to residents.

Mr Seidu Abukari, District Chief Executive for Tolon said government would continue to partner with relevant bodies to increase water supply in the Northern Region to eliminate guinea worm infestation in the region.

Mr John Aduakye, Assistant Director of the Northern Region Office of CWSA said CWSA would continue to strive to bring water to needy communities across the region.

Mr Aduakye expressed the hope that effective partnership amongst government and other stakeholders would improve water situation in the country, and make the 2016 dream of supplying water to all communities across the country a reality.