The Government of Ghana, the Embassy of Denmark and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have launched a partnership to support Ghana’s Covid-19 response.

The Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, Mr Tom Nørring and UNICEF’s representative, Madam Anne-Claire Dufay were received by Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the representative of the President at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to mark the launch of a partnership that is geared towards supporting Ghana’s National COVID-19 response.

The DKK35 million (or $5.6 million) partnership is expected to complement and expand the scope of the overall sustainable recovery plans set out by the Government of Ghana.

A statement issued by UNICEF said the 12-month project will concentrate on six to eight low-income and high-density urban communities in two regions; Greater Accra and Ashanti, and will support four main areas. These include; increasing access to water, sanitation and hygiene through sustainable infrastructure and taking measures to prevent and control infections, including positively influencing hygiene and health behaviour by vulnerable communities.

The statement said the partnership would also support community-led engagement and plan approaches to better direct services and promote best practices to prevent the transmission of Covid-19. It further revealed that the partnership would also focus on scaling up support to prevent and address sexual and gender-based violence, particularly through courts and judicial services; and encouraging the private sector participation in the reduction of potential vulnerabilities through the provision of low-cost sanitation.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Tom Nørring intimated that it is important for Denmark and himself, as Ambassador to Ghana, to show solidarity during these difficult times of the pandemic, particularly after almost 60 years of close cooperation between Ghana and Denmark.

“Unfortunately, the needs to reduce the spreading are becoming even more evident, and it will be paramount to take all necessary steps to secure the health and livelihood of the people of Ghana. Strong community resilience and awareness, and improved access to water and sanitation have again proven to be crucial – not least in the large cities where people are working and living closely.

“This project, that we are launching today, aims at supporting and underpinning the tireless work done by the Government of Ghana to manage the pandemic by expanding water access and hygiene practices in deprived urban areas.”

Taking her turn, the UNICEF Representative in Ghana, Madam Dufay noted that the most vulnerable children and families in urban areas are those facing the brunt of primary and secondary impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This programme will support the Government in the provision of safe, running water and adequate handwashing with soap facilities, as well as strengthened community health planning. We are ensuring the strong engagement of communities, which is essential to address the needs of the most marginalized and have a positive impact.”

She commended the Government of Ghana for its unremitting efforts to protect the population against Covid-19 and thanked the Government of Denmark for the strategic partnership.

“Within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) and the Socio-Economic Response and Recovery Plan (SERRP), this programme will complement the efforts of all UN Agencies in Ghana to support the Government in ensuring sustainable and resilient recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Madam Anne-Claire Dufay, UNICEF Representative

According to Madam Dapaah, as Ghana records an increasing number of Covid-19 cases, resilient water, sanitation and hygiene facilities become even more essential as the country seeks to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, and to achieve its longer-term goals to be Open Defecation Free, and to provide potable water to all citizens

“The Government of Ghana is delighted to see the commencement of this 12-month UNICEF and Embassy of Denmark project, and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources is looking forward to closing cooperation to realize our goals.

“On behalf of the Government of Ghana, I thank the Government of Denmark and UNICEF for this partnership and we look forward to working with you on this important project.”
Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah