The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources is advocating for the creation of a dedicated Water Fund to bolster the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
Despite the efforts of entities such as the Ghana Water Company to ensure water quality, the ministry contends that the current situation necessitates additional measures.
The proposed fund is seen as crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of activities such as sand winning and mining within the WASH sector.
Minister Freda Prempeh underscored the fund’s significance during the 2023 WASH Sector Performance Review Meeting in Accra on Thursday. She stressed the fund’s role in supporting various agencies to enhance water quality and upgrade other water facilities.
“We have all the mining companies around us, which are closer more often than not, whether illegal or legal or whatever it is, affecting our water bodies. They are contaminating our water bodies. Sand winning is also another issue… Every sector of this economy uses water, and all the water problems fall under Ghana Water Company Limited and Community Water Sanitation Agency.”
Freda Prempeh, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources
The Minister appealed to major stakeholders and donors will contribute to the fund.
“So, we seek your support to propose and advocate for a water fund to support whatever the donor partners are giving us, to support what the World Bank is doing for the Ministry and the good people of Ghana, and to ensure that this dedicated fund is used to roll out more water facilities for the good people of Ghana.”
Freda Prempeh, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources
Government Committed To Maintaining Good Hygiene Of Flood Victims
Meanwhile, Madam Frema Osei-Opare, the Chairperson of the Inter-ministerial Committee, announced that the government has earmarked 20 million Ghana Cedis to aid communities impacted by the Akosombo Dam Spillage. This revelation came during a Press Briefing arranged by the Ministry of Information, aimed at offering insights into the government’s initiatives to assist flood victims.
Among other concerns, health and basic hygiene amenities became obsolete in affected areas. However, government has assure affected communities of its commitment tot restore sanity and order in the areas.
The Government is committed to ensuring that all flood victims and their properties are safe and secured.
“So, we seek your support to propose and advocate for a water fund to support whatever the donor partners are giving us, to support what the World Bank is doing for the Ministry and the good people of Ghana, and to ensure that this dedicated fund is used to roll out more water facilities for the good people of Ghana.”
Frema Opare, Chairperson-Inter-ministerial Committee
In addition, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, expressed uncertainty about the reopening of St. Kizito Senior High School, currently providing refuge for numerous residents displaced by the flood in the North Tongu district following the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams. Speaking to the media, Dr. Adutwum stated that the school might resume operations once the flood victims are successfully relocated.
“The school became a safe haven so the community has taken over the school. The assessment we did was that by the end of the week, we will get the community to a better location or safer place or back to their homes and then St Kizito can reopen. So we have postponed school reopening for St Kizito which is a high school at Mepe.”
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education
Regarding the Comboni Technical School, Dr. Adu Twum also mentioned that the government is actively engaged in efforts to recover and restore all the machines that were lost due to the flood.
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