KEYNOTE ADDRESS READ ON BEHALF OF H.E. PRESIDENT J.E.A. MILLS DURING THE 3RD GWF

Mr. Chairman

Niimei, Naamei, Nananom,

Development Partners

Ministers of State

People working in the water and sanitation sector

Members of the Press

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the Third Ghana Water Forum under the theme “WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES DELIVERY IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING URBAN ENVIRONMENT”.  There is no doubt in my mind that this is a very appropriate theme looking at the huge challenges facing the urban sector.  I understand rural water and sanitation is not being neglected but the focus this year is on the urban sector since the rural sector has made and continue to make huge strides in delivering good water supply to the rural and small towns since the National Community Water and Sanitation Project was launched by government in 1994.  Urban water supply coverage has however stagnated in the same period with water rationing being the norm rather than the exception.  Indeed many urban dwellers under twenty years of age have never seen water flowing daily out of their taps!!  The situation with sanitation is even more appalling.

There is a saying that, “Water is Life”.  This saying lets us know the importance of water to our lives and to live as noble people.  To maximise the health benefits of improved water supply, there is the need to have appropriate toilet facilities in our homes.  The practice of handing washing with soap becomes an illusion when there is no water to use.  Good environmental sanitation has a huge impact on the health status of the good people of this country by reducing diarrhoeal diseases including cholera, worm infestations and various kinds of flu. 

Mr. Chairman, it is the wish of government to put in place all the necessary measures to ensure that all the good people of Ghana have access to good drinking water and adequate sanitation.  We have been told that the Millennium Development Goals require that we reach a target of 76% for water 53% for sanitation by the year 2015.  These figures are indeed laudable, but what kind of water will the good people of this country who do not have access be safe drinking be using and what kind of toilet facilities will the almost 50% of the country left be using?  We as a government are intent on doing what is best for the people of this country.  To this end government will spare no effort to ensure that we do better than the targets set for us by the year 2015.

Accordingly, we have this year launched the initiative to provide boreholes fitted with hand pumps to all our people in the remotest corners of this country.  We are also in the process of implementing the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) Compact which the Government of Ghana has committed itself.

On the issue of Urban Sanitation, I am urging all Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives to implement the relevant bye-laws to ensure all households have access to appropriate sanitation facilities in their houses.  I will also urge the various assemblies in the big cities especially Accra to come together and coordinate among themselves in accordance with the Local Government Act, Act 462 and the National Development Planning Systems Act, Act 480. All must understand that cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases do not know the political boundaries we have put in place.  Indeed, this year we had an unfortunate outbreak of cholera and almost 90% of the cases recorded were in Accra.

The issues facing urban water supply in the country are well known to all.  Currently the World Bank has given the country a grant of over hundred million dollars to implement the urban water project.  Construction works are currently ongoing in urban centres in six regions.  The Chinese are also supporting us to construct an additional treatment plant at Kpong to increase water supply to Accra by forty million gallons per day and which will supply water through a new pipeline to serve Adenta and surrounding areas.  The World Bank project is expected to end next year and the Chinese project is expected to end in two years.  With the completion of these projects and other projects the Government is embarking on, we will soon see a rapid improvement in delivery of water supply to our urban centres.

We are currently in the process of restructuring the urban water sector.  We believe we have the required expertise and knowledge in the country for the smooth and efficient running of urban water supply services.  The theme of this conference is focused on urban water issues.  It is my hope that your deliberations and outputs will enable us improve on the sector and to enhance government decision on how urban water supply services should be managed.

The Government of Ghana appreciates the role and contribution of various stakeholders including our development partners, civil society organizations and the private sector are playing in the provision of potable water to the good people of this country. We hope such commitments and contributions will continue to supplement government efforts in ensuring that National and MDG targets are exceeded.

Finally on behalf of the Government of Ghana and on my own behalf, I wish to thank each and every one of you, for your participation, in the Third Ghana Water Forum under the theme, “WATER AND SANITATION SERVICE DELIVERY IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING URBAN ENVIRONMENT”.

I am confident that outcomes from this forum will enable us to develop appropriate strategies and systems to ensure that urban water supply services are managed in a sustainable manner for the benefits of Ghana.  As we are all aware from the last census approximately 52% of Ghanaians now live in urban areas.

On this note, I declare the Third Ghana Water Forum duly opened.