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The government of Ghana, the Embassy of Denmark and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have launched a partnership to support Ghana’s response to Covid-19.
The Representative of the President at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, received, Mr. Tom Nørring, the Ambassador of Denmark in Ghana, and Ms. Anne-Claire Dufay, the Representative of UNICEF in Ghana, and their teams to mark the launch of a partnership to support the national Covid-19 response by the government of Ghana.
He noted that the DKK 35 million (or $ 5.6 million) partnership was meant to complement and expand the scope of the comprehensive sustainable recovery plans defined by the government of Ghana.
A statement released by UNICEF, copied to the Ghana News Agency, says the 12-month project will concentrate between six and eight low-income, high-density urban communities in two regions; Greater Accra and Ashanti, and will support four main areas.
These included; increase access to water, sanitation and hygiene through sustainable infrastructure and take measures to prevent and control infections, including by positively influencing the hygiene and health behaviors of vulnerable communities.
The statement said the partnership will also support community engagement and plan approaches for better direct services, and promote best practices to prevent transmission of Covid-19.
He said he would also focus on strengthening support to prevent and address sexual and gender-based violence, especially through courts and justice services; and encouraging private sector participation in reducing potential vulnerabilities, including through the provision of low-cost sanitation.
Ms Dapaah said: ‘As Ghana records an increasing number of Covid-19 cases, resilient water, sanitation and hygiene facilities become even more essential as we seek to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and to achieve Ghana’s longer term goals to be open. Without defecation and to provide clean drinking water to all Ghanaians.
“The Government of Ghana is delighted to see the start of this 12-month project by UNICEF and the Danish Embassy, and the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources looks forward to concluding its cooperation to achieve 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.”
Acknowledging this, Mr Nørring said: “After nearly 60 years of close cooperation between Ghana and Denmark, it is important for Denmark and myself, as Ambassador to Ghana, to show solidarity in these difficult times of the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, the need to reduce the spread becomes even more evident and it will be paramount to take all necessary measures to ensure the health and livelihoods of the people of Ghana.
“Strong community resilience and awareness, as well as better access to water and sanitation have once again proven crucial – especially in large cities where people work and live closely together.
“This project, which we are launching today, aims to support and sustain the tireless work of the Government of Ghana to manage the pandemic by expanding access to water and hygiene practices in disadvantaged urban areas.
“It also demonstrates the close ties that already exist with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.
“And we are of course very happy to team up with UNICEF in these efforts, as we are doing in many other places around the world.
“For our part, we will do our best to make this cooperation, but also our other partnerships in the field of water and wastewater management, a success. Building on many years of innovation and learning, Denmark has strongholds in sustainable solutions and technologies in the water sector, and I really encourage and hope to see more public and private partnerships in the water sector.
According to the UNICEF Representative in Ghana, and Madame Dufay noted that “the most vulnerable children and families in urban areas are facing the brunt of the primary and secondary impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This program will help the government provide clean running water and adequate hand washing with soap facilities, as well as strengthen community health planning.
“We ensure strong community engagement, which is essential to meet the needs of the most marginalized and have a positive impact. “More child-friendly gender-based violence courts will also benefit vulnerable women and children.
She commended the Government of Ghana for its tireless efforts to protect the population against Covid-19 and thanked the Government of Denmark for the strategic partnership.
“Under the United Nations Partnership for Sustainable Development (UNSDP) and the Socio-Economic Response and Recovery Plan (SERRP), this program will complement the efforts of all United Nations agencies in Ghana to assist the government in ensure a sustainable and resilient recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, ”added Ms. Dufay.
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