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Speed up action to achieve universal access to WASH -CONIWAS to government
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The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) has called on the government of Ghana to double its steps for urgent action to achieve Universal access to WASH.
For them, the world had about seven years to achieve SDG 6 and if the needed efforts were not doubled, Ghana might lose out on its target.
Ms Basilia Nanbigne, the Executive Secretary of CONIWAS made the call in Accra when the Coalition presented a paper to the Sector Ministry to input in their presentation at the 2023 UN Water Conference from 22-24 March 2023 in New York.
It is expected to see the adoption of the Water Action Agenda, representing voluntary commitments of nations and stakeholders to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets connected to water.
Ms Nanbigne said bold commitments were required to ensure the well-being and prosperity of both people and the planet, to achieve the SDGs and to meet biodiversity and climate targets.
“Per SDG 6, every Ghanaian must have access to “safely managed sanitation” by 2030. This means providing everyone with a toilet that is linked to a system of safe waste disposal.”
She said the focus should be on “Safely Managed” while dealing with equity and inclusion to address inequalities guiding the water supply.
The Executive Director said in practical terms, it required the government to begin a programme to bring water supply closer to the premises, building on existing boreholes, and putting safely managed statistics at the front burner in the national discourse.
She said it also involves addressing the entire sanitation value chain beyond the provision of improved household toilets.
Ms Nanbigne also called for a deliberate effort to universalize institutional WASH (Health Facilities and Schools).
She stated that all investments for WASH in communities must include the mandatory provision of WASH to schools, in consultation with teachers, parents, and the Ghana Education Service.
In that regard, she said, to achieve this goal, a comprehensive assessment of gaps in WASH in schools and the health system should be conducted as a matter of urgency to complement data available for schools and health facilities through the Education Management Information System (EMIS) and the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS) respectively.
Other issues raised by CONIWAS cover the need for the sector ministry to engage more on climate change, gender equity and equality, and human rights to WASH as well as develop Ghana Presidential Compact for WASH, and approve the National Sanitation Authority immediately.
She also called for comprehensive sector reforms that addressed institutional, regulatory, human resource, governance, funding, and technological aspects of WASH.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Sanitation, Water and Resources, (MSWR) Mr Noah Tumfo assured the Ministry of its commitment to put into consideration the paper.
BY BENEDICTA GYIMAAH FOLLEY
Christians have been urged to demonstrate a living faith in Jesus Christ by allowing their confession of Him as Lord and Saviour to reflect in their daily lives.
According to the Kaneshie District Pastor of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG), Rev. Dzidzor Nathaniel Affram, a genuine Christian’s confession should go beyond words and be demonstrated through obedience to God, love for others and service to the Church.
He made the call at the 40th anniversary remembrance service for the late Wesley Kwasi Kwadzo at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Maranatha Congregation at Awudome Avenui in the Volta Region.
Speaking on the theme, “The Church Built on a Living Confession,” Rev. Affram said life would continually present challenges capable of testing Christians’ faith, making it necessary for believers to hold firmly to their confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.
He explained that accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour required Christians to live according to His teachings, stressing that their faith must be evident in their conduct.
“A living confession listens to God and not man,” he said, urging Christians to remain obedient to God even when faced with difficulties and pressures.
Rev. Affram further encouraged the congregation to care for vulnerable people and demonstrate concern for others, adding that such acts were practical expressions of Christian faith.
He also urged Christians to identify and use their God-given gifts to build the Church.
He said every member of the Church had a role to play and cautioned Christians against looking down on others because of their status or abilities.
The remembrance service brought together family members, friends, members of the congregation and sympathisers to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the late Wesley Kwasi Kwadzo.
By Lizzy Okai
Two female students from the Eastern and Upper West regions of Ghana have booked their qualifications for the finals of this year’s World Vision Ghana School Sanitation Solutions Challenge slated for September 21, at the National Theatre in Accra.
The girls are Dede Nyarko from the Nkawkaw St Anthony RC JHS in the Eastern Region and Dasanah Candi Mwine Maalo from the Star of God RC JHS in the Upper West Region.
In all, 10 schools reached the semifinal stage held in Sunyani in the Bono Region.
The School Sanitation Solution Challenge by the World Vision Ghana instituted in 2019 is an annual national competition for Ghanaian pupils from primary six to Junior High School students up to form two.
The programme aims to foster environmental consciousness and empower children to concrete sustainable water, Sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Solution
The annual event is supported by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ghana Education Service and Zoomlion Foundation among other partners.
The girls won their respective contest from SHELP and COCOA zones and are expected to face other competitors from the southern zones for the ultimate prize at the National Theatre next month.
Dasanah Candi Mwine Maalo had an aggregate score of 77 points to pick the Shelp zone slot while Dede Nyarko also had an aggregate score of 89 to win from the Cocoa zone.
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboah, in a speech read on his behalf commended World Vision Ghana and its partners for instituting the competition to highlight sanitation issues in the country.
“Placing young people at the centre of the conversation on sanitation is highly commendable,” he said.
According to him under the government’s reset agenda, sanitation has received renewed attention as a critical component of effective local governance and service delivery
Mr Akwaboah said sanitation issues is a national responsibility and which everybody must play a role in ensuring clean, safer and sustainable environment devoid of diseases.
The WASH Technical Specialist- World Vision Ghana Atta Arhin in an address highlighted that while Ghana has achieved high basic access rates to safe drinking water approximately 87 per cent nationally, environmental sanitation and elimination of open defections lag critically behind.
He said the winner of the seventh edition would embark on a fully sponsored educational trip abroad and other prices.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani
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