The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) hosted a two-day National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coordination Workshop in Akosombo on February 13 and 14, 2024, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Hilton Foundation, and IRC Ghana.
The two-day workshop, on the theme: Effective Sector Coordination for Improved and Sustained WASH Service Delivery, among others, identified the underlying causes of the current state of WASH Sector coordination, forge agreements among important players and institutions to improve sector-wide and intra-sector coordination, and gathered feedback from the session to prepare a WASH Coordination Advice Paper.
Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, Director-General of NDPC in his welcome address emphasised the need for enhanced coordination and stressed the importance of effective collaboration within the WASH sector and other sectors striving to harmonise their efforts.
Acknowledging ongoing initiatives to address coordination challenges in sectors such as Integrated Social Services (ISS), Child Labour, Infrastructure Development, Industrialisation, Food Security, and Nutrition, Dr Mensah-Abrampa highlighted the necessity for cohesive action. Drawing attention to the interconnectedness of issues affecting water resources, he stressed the need for comprehensive discussions involving diverse stakeholders to address multifaceted challenges.
Dr Abrampa emphasised recognising the broader implications of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions beyond their immediate sectoral boundaries. He elaborated on the impact of activities from other sectors, such as Agriculture, Energy, and Mining (Galamsey), on water resources and quality, necessitating a holistic approach to WASH initiatives.
He highlighted the pressing issues of sanitation and hygiene, particularly in light of the spatial planning challenges affecting waste management. He emphasised the need to extend discussions beyond the confines of the WASH sector, considering the broader implications for public health and environmental sustainability.
The Director-General reaffirmed the workshop's objective, which is to enhance the coordination efforts of the WASH sector to give both urban and rural populations equal access to clean water and sanitation.
Mr Noah Tumfo, Chief Director at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) in a speech read on behalf of the sector Minister Hon. Dr Freda Prempeh emphasised the importance of coordination in advancing the goals of the water sector, acknowledging it as an ongoing endeavour.
Highlighting the challenges posed by limited resources, Mr Tumfo identified the need for effective coordination to maximise impact and ensure efficient resource allocation. He emphasised the significance of collective efforts in addressing the water sector’s pressing issues, recognising all partners' valuable contributions.
Mr Tumfo reinforced the MSWR's dedication to promoting cooperation and ensuring that the workshop produced positive results. He emphasised the significance of utilising the knowledge and contributions of every participant involved to promote advancement and improve the efficacy of interventions and reiterated the Ministry's commitment to building on the workshop's outcomes and taking concerted steps to elevate the sector's performance to new heights.
On behalf of World Bank Country Director, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, Ing Harold Esseku, Senior Sanitation Specialist with the World Bank highlighted the significance of addressing challenges and fostering synergistic relationships across sectors. He emphasised the interconnectedness of water issues with broader development goals, stressing the need for coordinated efforts to effectively achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ing Esseku underlined the importance of data availability and harmonisation within the sector, Stressing the necessity for collaborative efforts among various stakeholders to ensure accurate and accessible information. He expressed his commitment to participating actively in the workshop and encouraged all participants to collaborate to develop solutions aligned with collective goals. He expressed confidence in the collaborative efforts of participants to achieve tangible outcomes, pledging support for the direction set forth by the workshop.
The workshop was attended by about fifty stakeholders in the WASH sector, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MHAs), Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Private Sector, Corporate Organisations, Philanthropists, Academia, and Development Partners.