The Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) is calling on the government to as a matter of urgency to concrete action to strengthen existing water systems, reform institutions, and increase investment to address the emerging water crisis.
According to the group systems strengthening, institutional reforms and increased investment is required to ensure sustainable access to safe drinking.
The call by CONIWAS which was contained in a press release noted that the theme for 2022 World Water Day ‘Groundwater, making the invisible visible’ highlights the importance of groundwater in water provision.
It said that even though groundwater may be hidden, it is a treasure in water provision and should be preserved and protected.
The release signed by the Executive Secretary of CONIWAS Mrs. Basilia Nanbigne, further calls on the government to provide the needed logistics and budgetary support for the institutional strengthening of the Water Resources Commission and relevant institutions to improve coordination and the effective management of the country’s integrated water resources.
“CONIWAS notes with satisfaction the contribution of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA SWP) to safe water delivery. We are delighted with the project’s recent entry into the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
The Coalition believes that such projects can better contribute to a safe drinking water supply in Ghana if they are replicated in other jurisdictions. CONIWAS, therefore, encourages the government, through the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, to work with development partners to ensure replication of the project in all other regions of the country.” Portions of the release read.
“In the increasing climate variability and its effects on most of our water resources and wetlands, groundwater will become one of the most dependent upon resources and as such, there is a need to protect it. In Ghana, most of our communities depend on groundwater for their access to water services (through boreholes and wells). The practice of self-supply is equally on the increase. Many peri-urban areas and new settlements without piped connections resort to the construction of boreholes as a source of water. And most of the time, the drilling of these boreholes may not be done according to the right guidelines.
The Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation further calls on the government to provide the needed logistics and budgetary support for the institutional strengthening of the Water Resources Commission and relevant institutions to improve coordination and the effective management of the country’s integrated water resources.
CONIWAS particularly urges the government to take all necessary steps to check illegal mining (galamsey) activities that pollute water bodies and pose a serious threat to the sustainable safe drinking water supply.
- CONIWAS notes with satisfaction the contribution of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA SWP) to safe water delivery. We are delighted with the project’s recent entry into the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
The Coalition believes that such projects can better contribute to a safe drinking water supply in Ghana if they are replicated in other jurisdictions. CONIWAS, therefore, encourages the government, through the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, to work with development partners to ensure replication of the project in all other regions of the country.
Source: Inghananewstoday.com
