By Gloria Edinam Atiase
In order to address climate change issues and strengthen rural water utilization, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has launched the new Water Policy 2024.
The new policy is a revised version of the 2007 Water Policy and seeks to look at issues on sustainable financing to bring on board Small Water Enterprises.
This will help the Enterprises to play their role effectively and support the delivery of water for all Ghanaians. A Deputy Director at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Kwaku Quansah stated this in an exclusive interview with GBC news in Ho at the ongoing Mole 35 WASH conference. He noted that the 2007 Water Policy was able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs far before the end of the MDG period.
He was of the view that with consented efforts and with everyone on the table even in the midst of all challenges facing the sector, they will implement the new Water Policy to be able to serve water to all. Mr Quansah stated that the Ministry wants the new Water Policy to address the increasing cost of water in rural areas.
“The critical challenge that we want the new policy to address is the fact that some Ghanaians who live in the rural areas are paying more for water than the urban areas”.
“Since water is a public good there is the need to reverse it by increasing access to water for all”.
Mr Quansah also lamented on the galamsey menace adding that the new Water Policy seeks to help address it.
“One of the critical things the Water Policy is addressing is the galamsey. We cannot continue to allow our water bodies to be polluted with heavy metals therefore we encourage Ghanaians to stop mining in water bodies for posterity and the future”.
He added that if people do not stop the pollution, the country will have to import water which will be very expensive for Ghanaians.
The Mole 35 WASH conference has entered day three with some organizations holding discussion sections on topics such as Introducing Israel Water – Tech solution to Ghana WASH community, Leveraging Local Government-Led partnerships to reach the last mile, Looking back on the implementation of SDG six: progress, challenges and way forward; the role of Parliamentary Select Committee for WASH in accelerating progress institutional framework, policy and sustainable financing for WASH and Building community resilience through Water Resources management among others.