Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu Esq. at the National WASH Dialogue, has expressed his support for the significant strides Ghana has made in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector under both previous and current governments.
Dr. Kokofu a keynote speaker indicated that important steps are geared towards addressing the challenges posed by climate change, improving health outcomes, and ensuring sustainable development across the country, particularly in the northern regions.
Dr. Kokofu emphasized that Ghana has faced numerous challenges, including conflicts in various parts of the country, but has continued to make progress by strengthening systems through evidence-based policy strategies and guidelines.
Dr. Kokofu highlighted on the importance of “institutional capacity building to implement policies and strategies, monitoring progress, modeling innovative service delivery approaches, and supporting their scale-up.”
These measures have been pivotal in creating a robust framework for the WASH sector, ensuring that policies are not only developed but also effectively implemented and monitored for impact.
Dr. Kokofu pointed out that the Integration of WASH in Health Facilities and WASH being used as a critical component of Infection Prevention Control (IPC) is One of the key achievements.
Moreover, Dr. Kokofu stated that the integration has “helped to improve maternal and child health outcomes,” which is a significant milestone in the country’s public health efforts.
The approach has been so successful that it is now being adopted in schools, with plans to create sustainable infrastructure in at least 100 health facilities and 100 schools within the next three years.
Efforts to End Open Defecation and Improve Sanitation
Meanwhile, Ghana has made notable progress in its efforts to end open defecation and accelerate progress in safely managed sanitation. Dr. Kokofu highlighted the ongoing “defecation-free action plan and the safely managed sanitation strategy,” which are being modeled in 3 to 5 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), to reach at least 70,000 people.
These initiatives are crucial in improving public health and sanitation across the country, and their successful implementation is being supported by a range of development partners, including the World Bank and the United Nations.
Collaboration with Development Partners
The progress in the WASH sector has been significantly supported by international development partners. Dr. Kokofu acknowledged the crucial role of these partners in advancing Ghana’s WASH agenda.
“…all these [initiatives] are being supported by our development partners, including the World Bank, the UN, and others who are partnering with the government of Ghana.”
Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu Esq.
According to Dr. Kokofu, this collaboration has not only provided financial and technical support but also helped to ensure that Ghana’s WASH initiatives are aligned with global best practices and standards. Dr. Kokofu also referenced a review on climate change and water security solutions published by the Resource Center Network of Ghana in February 2022.
Dr. Kokofu pointed that the review highlighted the importance of “designing and implementing social behavior change activities on climate change in communities to empower community members with relevant knowledge on climate adaptation and mitigation measures.”
“Now I am aware that review people on climate change and water security solutions that was published by Resource Center Network of Guyana February 2022. Participants and stakeholders made some few points and notably among them was design and implement social behavior change activities on climate change in communities to empower community members with relevant knowledge on climate adaptation and mitigation measures.”
Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu Esq.
This finding underscores the need for community engagement and education as critical components of Ghana’s climate resilience strategy.
Moreover, Dr. Kokofu emphasized the need to “influence political parties to understand WASH and climate linkages and design political manifestos to address this crisis.”
This recommendation highlights the importance of political will and leadership in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and ensuring the sustainability of WASH initiatives. Dr. Kokofu expressed optimism about Ghana’s progress in the WASH sector, noting that;
“Ghana is making progress except that we need to accelerate and then sustain the gains.”
Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu Esq.
While significant strides have been made, there is still a need for continued efforts to ensure that the progress achieved is not only sustained but also scaled up to benefit more communities across the country. The ongoing collaboration between the government, development partners, and communities will be crucial in achieving these goals and ensuring that Ghana’s WASH sector continues to thrive in the face of evolving challenges.
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