Advisory board on urban water supply inaugurated

Mr E.T. Mensah, the Minister of Water Resources Works and Housing, has inaugurated a 12 member advisory board to come out with modalities on institutional reforms for the supply of urban water across the country.

The board which is chaired by Mr Edem Asiamah, Vice Chairman, Parliamentary Select Committee on Water Resources, is made up of officials from the Ghana Water Company Limited, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Public Utilities and Regulatory Commission (PURC).

The rest are officials of Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Association of Ghana Industries and the Coalition of NGO in Water and Sanitation.

Speaking at the inauguration on Wednesday, Mr Mensah said that the committee which has six months to submit its report to the Ministry is expected to come out with modalities on how urban water supply could be effective and affordable; ensure that the views of all stakeholders were taken into consideration in urban water supply.

He said the Committee would also advise the Ministry on the implications of its decisions on urban water supply, ensure that every reform undertaken by government is in line with its commitment to improve on urban water supply and also make water accessible to poor households.

Mr Mensah said, the membership of the Committee had been carefully chosen to provide a mix of sector knowledge and the requisite background necessary to impact their mission positively.

Mr Edem Asiamah, who spoke on behalf of the Committee, expressed gratitude to the Minister for the trust reposed in them and pledged to work to come out with a good report saying “we would work to ensure that that the president’s dream of making water accessible to about 80 percent of Ghanaians by 2015 shall come to pass”.**