WaterAid Ghana is asking government to commit to the globally initiated Water Action Agenda as the international community marks World Water Day.

In a statement, the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur said, “If the people missing access to water and sanitation got access, they will not only fulfil their right to this basic human right but will unlock their potential to contribute and help accelerate development in their communities”.

The Water Action Agenda is a United Nations initiative which is a compilation of all water-related voluntary commitments concerning the second half of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the second portion of the Water Action Decade 2018-2028.

In Ghana, safely managed water access is around 41.41%, and only 3% of rural populations have water connected to their houses.

Madam Yanyi-Akofur observed that “what this means is that only this percentage of people are using drinking water from an improved source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination”.

Read the full statement below:

Message from WaterAid Ghana Country Director to mark World Water Day

Globally $114 billion per year is needed to achieve universal access to safely managed WASH services. In Ghana safely managed water access is around 41.41%, and only 3% of rural populations have water connected to their houses. What this means is that only this percentage of people are using drinking water from an improved source that is accessible on premises, available when needed and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination.

According to a 2020 study by UNICEF, Ghana will have to wait until 2103 before every household has a decent toilet they don’t have to share with others.

Undeniably progress has been made, however significant strides are needed if we are reaching out to everyone, everywhere by 2030.

The theme for this year “accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis” call on everyone to “Be the change we want to see in the world!!!”

This important day calls for us to generate much needed momentum towards showing the vital importance of water, and WASH as a whole. The cost of lack of access to water is reflected in avoidable poor health of the population; wasted time, particularly by women and girls who must walk long distances to collect water or access sanitation facilities instead of attending school or work. There is also the major problem of increased risk to communities when clean water and sanitation are not available, hindering their ability to cope with natural disasters, conflict, or pandemics.

It is imperative that we work collectively to make a turning point and bring the world together for WASH.

WaterAid Ghana has done a lot of work in collaboration with partners, communities and relevant stakeholders in an effort to reaching everyone, everywhere with clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene especially people living in marginalized communities.

WaterAid Ghana will continue to work and is committed to making this dream a reality

We call on the government of Ghana to commit to the newly created Water Action Agenda which is reflected in WaterAid’s 10-point action plan for sustainable WASH

1.       Increase political leadership that prioritizes and champions WASH

2.       Mobilize sustained investments in WASH infrastructure and services and increase sector efficiency

3.       Prioritise clean water in national climate adaptation planning as a critical line of defence

4.       Reinforce that safe WASH is a service, and set of behaviours that need sustaining

5.       Improve coordination of the sector by mapping, and resourcing capacity gaps

6.       Address gender inequalities and increase representation of women in decision-making roles

7.       Improve water resource management

8.       Prepare for future outbreaks by strengthening health systems and improving quality of care through water, sanitation and hygiene

9.       Make a public commitment to support the African Sanitation Policy Guidelines in your declaration

10.     Improve the participation of communities, CSO and youth in water governance

If the people missing access to water and sanitation got access, they will not only fulfil their right to this basic human right but will unlock their potential to contribute and help accelerate development in their communities.

I urge everyone to be a hummingbird, too. The actions you take, no matter how small, will help solve the water crisis!  Happy World Water Day to you All

Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur

Country Director

WaterAid Ghana