Benjamin Arthur, the Executive Secretary of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) talks to Abu Wumbei of RCN about the position of CONIWAS on financing the water sector and analysis of the 2011 budget in relation to Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) compact. At a press conference held at the International Press Centre in Accra on the 11th May, 2011. The Executive Secretary noted that 2.8% of the National budget was allocated for water and 3% to sanitation, which was much less than promised in the SWA compact. It is clear that water sector in Ghana relays on 94% donor funds. CONIWAS was also concerned as to why the donors did not allocate any budget for Sanitation in the 2011.
Local stakeholders and government agencies met on 14 April 2011 at the Erata Hotel in Accra to agree on priority actions to get sanitation on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals target by 2015. This follow up workshop was organised by Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development with support from WaterAid in Ghana.
In July the African ministers will meet in Kigali, Rwanda, at AfricaSan 3 to review progress towards the eThekwini commitments on sanitation. The objectives of the conference areto present evidence and exchange learning, track country progress, review the commitments, present country actions, and advocacy to increase the profile of sanitation. The priority actions agreed at the workshop in Accra will be presented at AfricaSan 3 conference as part of Ghana’s country action plan.
Ben Arthur, the Executive secretary of Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) stated the official position of the coalition of NGOs on the management contract of Aqau Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) at a press conference held at the Teachers’ hall 27th /04/2011. Theme, the of future urban water supply.
In the press statement, CONIWAS clearly stated that the operations of urban water supply should be reverted back to the Ghana Water Company Ltd (GWCL) and that government should initiate stakeholder consultations among citizens on the long term direction of urban water supply.
IRC Ghana shared their perspective on Information and Knowledge Management (KM) with the General Assembly of the West Africa Regional Journalist Network in Accra on Thursday April 28, 2011.
Hon. Dr. Hanna Louisa Bisiw, Deputy Minister of Water from Ghana explains to Dick de Jong how political will by her president has triggered action on the ground. Right now 20,000 new boreholes are being constructed. And illegal mining of water is being prevented. She toured with young journalists who help educate Ghanians about the need about the value of water and waste. She talked at the Cape Town WaterCube on 22 March, World Water Day event.
Opinions of government officials on how to share and plan for the costs of WASH services in Ghanian communities are made available in this interesting photo story video.
Resource Link Foundation , A non-governmental organisation (NGO), has provided rain water harvesting facilities to four schools in the Wenchi Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region at the cost of GH¢9,800.00
The Deputy Minister of Health, Honorable Robert Joseph Mettle Nunoo has urged Ghanaians to wash their hands with soap before meals and after visiting the toilet, calling upon all health institutions, media houses, and individuals to boost the efforts of the campaign for better sanitation and hygienic environment towards a healthier nation. He made these remarks during the Unilever Health Summit held on Wednesday 6th April 2011 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
IRC, the International Water and Sanitation Center and UNICEF have organized a web based debate to elaborate on how to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in schools. The 4 weeks debate will focus a different themes called weekly statements. Right now less than half of all primary schools have access to safe water and just over a third have adequate sanitation in countries where data are available.
The SWITCH Project and the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing are delighted to announce the 4th Ghana National Junior Water Prize (GNJWP). The aim is to provide an opportunity for the brightest young minds in science to begin their journey as the next generation of leaders in the water sector. The GNJWP feeds into the International Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
