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Local Government Minister reveals government’s intention to revive the National Sanitation Day initiative
The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ahmed Ibrahim has revealed government’s intention to revive the National Sanitation Day initiative.
The day he said forms part of efforts to combat water pollution and ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water in Ghana.
Speaking at the 2025 World Water Day media engagement and panel discussion, organized by World Vision Ghana in partnership with other stakeholders in Accra on Tuesday, he highlighted the critical link between water and sanitation stressing the need for a collective approach to prevent the contamination of the country’s water bodies.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim urged metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) to implement comprehensive and sustainable strategies to foster positive attitudes toward water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in their communities.
He emphasized that without a change in behaviour, investments in WASH initiatives would not achieve their intended impact.
“One of the major barriers to sustainable water service delivery is the poor attitude of citizens. Therefore, I encourage MMDAs to develop and implement sustained behavioural change strategies,” Mr Ibrahim stated.
Mr Ibrahim also highlighted the importance of data in planning and executing WASH interventions effectively.
“MMDAs must be innovative in attracting additional resources and should also familiarise themselves with relevant sector policies and strategic documents,” he advised.
He assured that the ministry remained committed to ensuring the proper dissemination of these policies to enhance the capacity of MMDA staff.
“We are dedicated to working with all stakeholders to guarantee access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation for all, promoting both good health and socio-economic development,” he added.
The minister further stressed the importance of inter-ministerial coordination to harmonise data and find solutions to WASH service challenges.
He also called for a national conversation on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its impact on corporate taxation.
“It is crucial to evaluate CSR initiatives to ensure they genuinely contribute to societal well-being,” he noted, adding that this would foster accountability among companies regarding their social and environmental impact.
The National Director of WVG, Jean-Claude Mukadi, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to collaborating with the government and stakeholders to address challenges in access to safe drinking water.
He urged the government to increase investment in WASH programmes to ensure universal access to clean water, especially for children.
“Through World Vision’s efforts, we have completed and commissioned 958 boreholes with hand pumps across various communities. Additionally, we have delivered 197 solar-powered mechanised water systems and provided 368 schools and 157 healthcare facilities with safe drinking water sources,” Mr. Mukadi stated.
Development Geographer at the University of Cape Coast, Professor Simon Mariwah, expressed concern over the declining investment trend in WASH
By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley
Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) successfully holds the African Women’s Health and Wealth Conference (AWoHW) with a call for research and investment into women’s healthcare.
It also called for robust financial systems and encouraged women to generate wealth as well as prioritise their health.
The conference held at the Shippers House in Accra on Thursday, March 5, 2026, was on the theme, “Championing Inclusive healthcare and finance systems for African women and girls.”
Speaking on behalf of Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sabia Kpekata, Programme Officer at the Ministry, said, Financial inclusion remains one of the most critical pathways to women’s empowerment and achieving sustainable development.
According to the minister, it is for this reason that the government continues to support initiatives that expand access to affordable credit, strengthen women-led enterprises and build financial literacy.
“Institutions such as MASLOC, the Women’s Development Bank and other targeted financing mechanisms play a critical role in closing the financial inclusion gap,” she added.
Against this backdrop, she stated that the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), further strengthens this agenda. By mandating progressive representation of women in decision-making spaces across public and private sectors, the Act ensures that women are not only beneficiaries of financial and healthcare systems, but architects of those systems.
“Women must sit at the policy table where budgets are approved, health priorities are set, and economic policies are designed. This is why the Ministry calls on all stakeholders to push for the effective implementation of the Affirmative Act,” she stated.
Furthermore, she noted that the conference called on everyone to move inclusion from talk to action, incorporating it in budgets, laws, health systems and corporate policies.
She added that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is committed to partnering with stakeholders to build inclusive healthcare and financial systems that serve every woman and girl, regardless of location, income, or social status.
“Let us strive to build a Ghana where opportunity is not determined by gender and where systems are designed to uplift, protect and empower,’ she noted.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, said many women suffer from mental health issues as a result of health financing, adding that this is why President Mahama has initiated the Accra Reset to tackle issues relating to women.
Additionally, she commended the Ghana Enterprises Agency for consistently promoting women entrepreneurs.
Nana Oye Bampoe further touched on some government initiatives targeted at women, adding that the government is intentional about women’s empowerment.
On his part, the convener, Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, said, “Today is not just a conference – It is a declaration. It is a declaration that African women and girls will no longer stand at the margins of systems that determine their health, their wealth, and their future.”
According to her, it is a declaration that sustainability is not a slogan for them, rather, it is a strategy, a commitment and a promise.
She said the greatest resource any organisation, community, nation or continent has is its human resources, adding that the continent’s economic prosperity depends on the quality, productivity and capacity of its labour force, including men, women and young people.
The convener noted that where both genders have equal opportunities and operate at near optimal levels, there will be greater economic Expansion and output for the prosperity of all Africans
Additionally, she stated that to drive inclusive economic growth, reduce poverty, amongst others, there is a need for an intentional and clear alignment to economic and social dynamics in specific contexts.
“This will in turn positively impact the involvement and contributions to drive the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the overall economic prosperity of Africa,” she added.
She further stated that as 2030 approaches, WISA which officially launched on May 1, 2025 in Partnership with the UN Global Compact on behalf of all Women of Africa and of African Descent, will mark a new beginning to accelerate growth towards the closure of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) gaps, by being deliberate to center women at the heart of implementation and compliance.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod Jewellery, Getrude Emefa Donkor, said, Saving alone cannot make one financially sound, adding that investing and having other sources of income is the best way to go.
She also provided some tips for women, calling for discipline in spending, and consistency in saving behaviour, as well as inculcating the habit of budgeting.
WiSA is a Coordinating Pan-African Organization that works with other CSOs, NGOs, Corporate Institutions, local and International Development Organizations and individuals to bring all women, men, young people and women groups together (especially those at the grassroots level) to foster the achievement of the SDGs across Africa.
WiSA stands for the development of new perspectives and catalytic ideas towards accelerating growth for the achievement of the SDGs, including closing the Gender Inequality gap.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
Promoting Gender Equity In Governance: Felicia Adjei highlights importance of proportional representation
The Member of Parliament for Kintampo South, Felicia Adjei, has made a statement in Parliament on the importance of proportional representation in promoting gender equity in governance.
Speaking in parliament yesterday, she noted that the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121) was a bold step toward encouraging women’s participation, but laws alone cannot guarantee fairness if the electoral system does not support inclusion.
She explained that proportional representation, particularly through Gender-Balance or “zebra” lists where parties alternate between male and female candidates, could help ensure equal opportunities for women in leadership.
The Kintampo MP was of the view that such a system promotes fairness by design rather than leaving representation to chance.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
