By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The 35th edition of the annual Mole Conference Series on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) is opened in Ho, the Volta regional capital.
The biggest annual WASH festival which is currently underway at the plush Volta Serene Hotel in Ho, is being attended by over 300 participants from government agencies, academia, International and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), health professionals, chiefs and the media.
The Mole Conference series, organized by the Coalition of Non Governmental Organizations in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and supported by WaterAid Ghana, World Vision Ghana, Plan International Ghana, UNICEF, the World Bank, and Global Communities, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the World Bank-funded GAMA SWP project, among others is on the theme: “Looking Back on SDG Six Implementation in Ghana: Progress, Challenges, and the way forward.”
The annual Mole WASH Conference is a CSO-led multi-stakeholder platform aimed at reviewing sector performance, influencing policies, removing barriers and promoting access to sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene services.
Delivering the the theme’s address at the opening ceremony a Senior Sanitation Specialist, at the World Bank Ghana office, Ing. Harold Esseku called for transformation mindset from policymakers to ensure Ghana achieves its WASH objectives and goals.
“Transformative mindset is needed from leaders right down to all citizens to help Ghana to meet its targets in WASH. The way we look at sanitation, water and hygiene is very critical to help solve the issues facing Ghana in the WASH sector,” he stated.
Ing. Esseku admonished WASH sector players to champion the things they do best at every opportunity they get to help country to transform it’s environmental sector.
“Yes we have made some progress but If we are not bold to talk about the challenges that face the sector currently and the things we need to do as a country, how can we meet our Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets? “ The Sanitation Specialist, at the World Bank Ghana office inquired.
He said Ghana can only meet its SDGs on WASH if the right things are done. Some dignitaries at the opening ceremony were, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Lydia Eyram Alhassan, Archibald Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, Harold, and Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, Paramount Chief of the Anfoega Taditional Area and President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs who chaired the opening ceremony.
