The Ministry of Sanitation Receives $ 1.5 Million to Improve Water Supply

General News of Saturday, May 4, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-05-04

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources received a $ 1.5 billion package to improve water supply in seven regions of the country.

This will boost the government's program to provide safe drinking water to all regions of the country.

Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, said this allocation was due to the fact that her ministry was one of the priority sectors of the government that required special attention from the Ministry of Finance to to allocate the necessary budgets to achieve its objectives.

The minister said 5 million people in seven regions of the country will have access to portable drinking water thanks to $ 1.5 billion in funding for the sector.

A statement issued by the ministry, with a copy to the Ghana News Agency, made the announcement when she made a statement as a guest of honor. Special honor at the IRC WASH Systems Symposium held in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The minister said Ghana's planning policy was now defined by a strong partnership with the private sector for solid and liquid waste management. Thus, 80% of the 1,800 tonnes of solid waste generated daily in the country was handled by the private sector, which operates mainly on the basis of cost recovery through a franchise agreement.

Ms. Dapaah said that the allocation of funds would facilitate water supply in all regions of the country, in line with the government's objectives.

The International Symposium was organized under the auspices of the International Water and Sanitation Resource Center, in partnership with stakeholders such as Sanitation and Water for All, Water Aid and the Washington-based Conrad Hilton Foundation.

Ms Dapaah said that, in line with the ministry's mandate to achieve the goals of SDG 6, the Ministry had revised and then launched the National Guidelines Policy to target the poor and vulnerable for the services of the poor. Basic sanitation in Ghana.

Regarding the rural water supply to rural WASH, the minister said the country has 1,022 water supply systems and 32,656 boreholes equipped with hand pumps.

This translates into 62% national water coverage in rural areas.

She noted, however, that one of the major problems in rural water supply was the frequent failure of water supply systems, which accounted for more than 35% of water supply. resulted in unprofitable water estimated at between 45 and 60%.

Ms. Dapaah, however, stated that her ministry supported the Community Water and Sanitation Agency with the goal of initiating reforms to address sustainability issues through resource mobilization. This support also includes investments in the rehabilitation of 100 water supply systems and the involvement of 700 water professionals. sector.

These interventions, she said, would reduce unbilled water by 60% to 25% by 2025.

She said the government has mobilized funds to ensure water supply and distribution for all.

With regard to water in urban areas, the minister said that urban water access was currently 88% and that the goal of 100% expected would be reached by 2030 thanks to the policies initiated and implemented by the government.

However, it acknowledged the difficulties encountered in private sector activities, including equipment storage capacity, inadequate standard infrastructure and the cost of operations, which the Ministry was trying to solve.

Ms. Dapaah used this platform to tout investment opportunities in the country, particularly in the WASH sector.

She said the ministry had numerous intervention programs that required support, mentioning the community-led total sanitation program and the implementation of the policy guidance document. poor targeting the poor and the vulnerable for basic sanitation services.

The Minister also commended the World Bank and African Development for their support, which had put in place subsidy programs in the country.

The Symposium provided Ghana with the opportunity and platform to highlight key achievements in the water and sanitation sector and solicit international support from policy makers, thinkers and implementing agencies on how to deliver sustainable WASH services, the statement added.