Citizens urged to demand WASH services

Mr. Ayamdor

Bongo (UE), May 29 GNA - Citizens and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region,    are being empowered to demand sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH) services from the authorities.

Water Aid in partnership with Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation and Integrated Action for Community Development,    was   to implement the project   in 10 communities in the   District,   which is being funded by the European Union and Water Aid Ghana

The beneficiary   communities are Atampiisi , Tingre 'A',   Tingre 'B', Kuyeligo , Anfobisi   and   Zui. The rest are     Zaasi, Bungboko , Gorigo Nayire   and Gorigo Takungu .

Speaking at a   stakeholders' meeting at a start-up Workshop   in Bongo on Wednesday,   which attracted traditional rulers, CSOs , Opinion Leaders and Assembly members , the   Programme Officer of Water Aid in charge of the Northern Sector   , Mr Hamza Zakaria disclosed that   the project which was a three-year funded programme,   would also cover the Gushegu District and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly,   targeting 30 communities in all   the three areas.

The Programme Officer who stated that the issue of WASH had become a major health issue,   expressed the hope that the empowerment of the Citizens and CSOs,   would help address the issue.

He   impressed upon all the stakeholders involved in the execution of the project to put in efforts in the process.

He regretted that   in this era,   most communities, particularly in the   most deprived areas, found it difficult to have access to WASH services,   and stated that irrespective of   people's   background,    they are entitled to efficient service deliveries in the area of WASH from authorities.

Mr   Enoch Cudjoe , Policy Officer of   the European Union,   Funded Advocacy Project,   indicated that inadequate access to safe water and sanitation remained   a major challenge in developing countries,    and   stressed that poor WASH perpetuates disease, limited education , increased   health burden, and lowered   productivity.

He revealed that   only 14 per cent and 86 per cent   of Ghanaians have access to improved sanitation and water respectively.

He regretted that   the most worrying trend is that    18 per cent   of Ghanaians   practise open defecation which is a major health   burden to   government.

He said what informed the decision to select Bongo among the Districts was that the entire district had only 38 institutional latrines and many schools   did not have   functional   toilets for pupils and   teachers.

The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Alexis Ayamdor who expressed gratefulness for the project,   impressed upon the stakeholders to participate   actively in the implementation process, adding that   the Assembly would ensure that the project achieved its objectives.

 
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