RLG Foundation urges intensified protection of Water bodies

The Rlg Foundation is advocating a concerted effort to curtail water pollution and scarcity in the country.

The Foundation has therefore urged a step-up strategy to prevent water pollution and shortage.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Foundation to commemorate this year’s World Water Day which falls on March 22 every year.

World Water Day is an international observance to highlight water related issues and instigate actions to make a difference. World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended.

The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Water and Jobs” and it is intended to drum home the fact that almost half of the world's workers, about 1.5 billion people, work in water related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water and those that ensure its safe delivery. Yet the millions of people who work in water are often not recognized or protected by basic labour rights.

“As a people-cantered organisation, we are compelled to applaud the selection of the theme for 2016, focusing on how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers' lives and livelihoods , and even transform societies and economies”, the statement said.

While congratulating the Ghana Water Company, the Water Resources Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Water Research Institute for their tireless efforts to curb pollution, the statement said recent media reports about water shortage in parts of the country, particularly in central, eastern and Volta regions must trigger greater commitment to improve the general protection of water sources and facilities.

The statement urged the specialised institutions responsible for water provision and protection to forge closer ties with the security agencies curb the environmental practices such as small-scale mining, popularly called Galamsey which is detrimental to the provision and supply of potable water in Ghana.

The Foundation also commends private sector interventions, complimenting government’s supply and provision of water. It particularly lauded the support of ActionAid, WaterAid, USAID, World Vision, Plan International and others who through diverse means have provided one form of water or another to a section of the population.

“As an organisation, our Foundation continuous to provide boreholes in deprived communities in northern part of the country to alleviate the suffering of our people”, the statement concluded.

The RLG Foundation is the social investment management arm of RLG Communications Group and has since 2012 being promoting health and wellness, education and empowerment for young people.