Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has inaugurated a five-member governing board for the Ghana Water Institute (GWI).
The inauguration of the GWI, originally, the Ghana Water Training School, was chaired by Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, at the premises of the institute in Accra.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Sector Minister encouraged the board to work diligently and contribute their quota to the development of the institute.
“I, therefore, wish to charge the Chairman and Members of Governing Board, to complement Government’s agenda by improving institutional capacity, promoting multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approaches to proffer solutions to Water Resource Management in Ghana and the Sub-Region.
“I must say, the Ministry is impressed with the overall strategic objectives of the Institute. I am, therefore, imploring the Governing Board to diligently implement these objectives towards achieving the mandate of the GWCL.”
Cecilia Abena Dapaah
The sector minister also entreated the board to support in the regulation of services which are provided by private sector operators to bring sanity into that space, while also serving as an additional revenue generation stream for management of the affairs of the Institute.
Ing. Dr. Clifford Braimah, Chairman of the Board, on his part said he is determined to work together with other international agencies to run programmes that will aid students tutored in the Institute to contribute to development in the water sector.
The Rector of the institute Dr. Zulkarnien Nashiru also in his speech, expressed his determination to transform the Institute into a center of excellence.
The members of the inaugurated board include: Ing. Dr. Clifford Braimah (Chairperson), James Abbey (Member), Ing Richard Appiah Otoo (Member), Dr. Zulkarnien Nashiru, (Member), Vilda Duti (Member).
The institute is now licensed to run programmes on the National Proficiency Platform after it gained accreditation from the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET). It is expected that Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) will also commence September, this year at the Institute.
GWCL appeals to the public to safeguard water bodies
Mrs Janet Atebiya, Bono Regional Water Quality Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) appealed to the public to protect water bodies to save the country from importing water in the near future.
Specifically, she pleaded with ‘galamsey’ (illegal mining) operators to be patriotic and desist from their financial greed which has been the reason for their unlawful practices.
Mrs. Atebiya further forewarned that should the country get to the level of importing water, it may not be affordable to most people, although, that might be the only option at that point of redeeming the public since according to her, “water is life and a basic necessity”.
It Is on this ground that she appealed with the government, saying that currently consumers were complaining about increased cost of water bills, and others, unable to pay for the service.
“If care is not taken, the quality and quantity of water supply in the country could be affected and cause problems.”
Mrs. Atebiya
The absence of water could disrupt every activity in life, Mrs. Atebiya said, citing that quality drinking water, daily water use for domestic purposes and mostly the sanitation situation could become a challenge.
She further stressed on the fact that the quality and quantity of water could be affected if ‘galamsey’ activities were not brought under control through the combined effort of government and the populace.
The situation could also result in outbreak of diseases, she noted, saying that some people were intentionally drying up the water bodies without considering the great negative impact on society now and the future generation.
Giving her advise in this regard, she told the public not to deceive themselves that, “underground water is always clean and safe for drinking” because, its wholesomeness could only be determined by expert testing.
Furthermore, the Quality Manager of Water entreated consumers to always engage professional license drillers from the GWCL for their well construction so that the water’s wholesomeness could be proved
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