Accra, June 27, GNA - Government spends over one billion cedis every month on the treatment of water from the Weija dam to ensure the consumption of safe water, Minster of Water Resource works and Housing, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman said on Wednesday.
He said as a finite resource, government was committed in doing everything possible to ensure that Ghanaians had potable drinking water by the year 2015 irrespective of the problems that may be encountered. Speaking at the inauguration of new members of the Water Resources Commission, the sector Minister said there was the need for Ghanaians to change their attitudes towards the preservation of the water bodies.
The 13-member Commission would be mandated to help government regulate and manage water resources, which has become an essential part of government policies.
The Commission would ensure that the country's water resource endowment, which is threatened by natural phenomena such as variability of climate and rainfall, was adequately sustained.
Mr. Owusu-Agyeman noted that whiles government was spending lots of money in purchasing equipment and other chemicals in ensuring safe drinking water in the country, Ghanaians ought to change their attitudes to ensure preservation in which way some of the resources would be channelled into addressing other essential issues in the country.
"If we decide to live irresponsibly as a nation by disposing off plastic and other waste anyhow, we may be in trouble and therefore it is time for us to preserve our water bodies for use in the future".
He noted that the national water policy which had an overview of Ghana's water sector comprising the state of the water resources and management institutions, development priorities, international obligations, among others had been approved by cabinet.
Mr. Oduro Kwadjo Gyarteng, Chairman of the Commission expressed his gratitude and pledged members preparedness to carry out their duty with seriousness and hard work.
He called for support for the commission to ensure the effective preservation of all water resources.
