By: Gloria Edinam Atiase
The Chairperson of the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation CONIWAS, Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, has commended the participation of the youth in this year’s MOLE WASH conference underway in Ho the Volta Regional capital.
In an interview with GBC news on her outfit’s impression of the conference so far, she hinted that the youth participation is an indication that the older generation is monitoring and preparing the youth to take over from them adding that it is a positive development. The four day conference organized by CONIWAS aim at enhancing networking and building strategic partnership between stakeholders in the WASH sector.
The conference is on the theme, “Looking back on SDG six implementation in Ghana; progress, challenges, and way forward”. Among the thematic areas of discussion are institutional alignments and policies, approaches, strategies, and methods towards attainment of SDG six in Ghana.
Miss Akanyani observed that most of the participants are under 40 years, which she said give hope to the sector that the young people are learning from the old. She described the 35th Mole WASH conference as a milestone adding that they need to reflect on the progress made so far and look at their challenges and way forward for the WASH sector in Ghana.
Miss Akanyani said “we cannot be working and not reviewing yourself, so is more like let’s sit back and find out whether we are doing something well or not”. She advised the participants to contribute to the discussions and also learn from one another.
“Everyone has something to contribute in this particular conference even if you are not addressing the entire body, if your organization is not doing much, but you are working in the sector or you have an interest in the sector, engage with someone or an organization and learn something from there”.
Miss Akanyani also entreated participants to visit the WASH sector exhibition stands mounted by various organizations including GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, World Vision Ghana, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, WaterAid, Plan International Ghana, Catholic Relief Services and Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited among others.
Institutions and organizations participating in the MOLE 35 WASH conference include GAMA/GKMA Sanition and Water Project, IRC Ghana, World Vision Ghana, and the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation, M-CODe.
Earlier, the Chairperson led a team with the Child Sanitation Diplomat, Master Abdul Yazid Faraj Timtoni Wumbei, a pupil of Grace Holy Child Academy to interact with some pupils in Ho. This was to sensitize the pupils on the School Sanitation Solutions Challenge, so as to enable them apply when the time comes.