Asutifi North, Partners Hold Stocktaking And Sustainability Forum On ANAM - WASH Initiative

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Sep 17, 2024 - 13:56

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Asutifi North, Partners Hold Stocktaking And Sustainability Forum On ANAM - WASH Initiative

September 16, 2024 - Kenyasi

By Adu Gyamfi Odopa

(Odopa2@gmail.com)

The Asutifi North District Assembly (ANDA) and its partners, held a stocktaking and sustainability forum on Asutifi North Ahonidie Mpuntuo (ANAM) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiative.

It was held on Wednesday September 11, 2024 at Kenyasi in the Ahafo region on the theme, "protecting the gains of the ANAM WASH initiative for the future".

The objectives of the forum was to highlight the collective process made by the ANAM WASH partnership under the leadership of the ANDA to advance the delivery of WASH services.

It was also to examine the risks and early signs of challenges to the sustainability of WASH infrastructure and service delivery, and discuss practical sustainability measures and agree on a joint plan for implementation.

The forum brought together traditional authorities, Journalists, development partners, Heads of Departments and Agencies, staff of ANDA, Health and Education services, NGOs, CSOs, women and youth groups, private sector operators and Persons With Disability (PWD) among others.

Mr Samuel Badu Baiden, the District Co - ordinating Director, in his remarks commended IRC, Safe Water Network, World Vision International, Aquaya Institute, Netcentric Campaigns, Easy Water for Everyone, SAHA Global, WaterAid, Newmont and other partners for supporting the district's WASH initiative.

He expressed gratitude to the significant investment made by partners in the district's WASH infrastructure and system strengthening saying that "let's all ensure reliable and sustainable delivery of high - quality WASH services to the residents indefinitely".

The Director stated that the initiative, launched in 2018, aims at ensuring universal access to safe water, basic sanitation, and hygiene services for approximately 84,420 people by 2030.

Mr Baidoo noted that by 2023, the initiative had significantly transformed the district's WASH landscape, achieving 90 per cent coverage for basic water services and improving sanitation access from 77 per cent in 2018 to 99 per cent in 2023.

Achieving a 100 per cent coverage in water, sanitation and hygiene, he stressed, should be the topmost priority of each and everyone in the area adding that " let's all contribute our widow's mite to make the initiative complete".

Md Vida Duti, the Ghana Country - Director of IRC, in her statement said the new National Planning Guidelines of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) is infusing ANAM WASH initiative for nationwide implementation.

Though our neighbouring countries and other foreign institutions come to Ghana to learn from us, she emphasised, Asutifi North district who are the pave setters in the project, must do well to sustain its gains and to reach the 100 per cent coverage target.

The Country - Director commended ANDA for the successful implementation of the initiative and advocated for the routine maintenance and improvement of the facilities to benefit future generations.

"Even though the projects are funded by IRC and other partners, its maintenance must be fixed by the beneficiary communities before they deteriorate. Service to yourself is not slavery" she reechoed.

In a presentation, Bismarck Asante, the District Planning Officer, enumerated the numerous achievement of the initiative including the construction of 226 boreholes, other limited mechanised systems and a small town water system in Kenyasi No 1 community.

He noted that the initiative has also expanded water, sanitation and hygiene services to 50 basic schools and health care facilities in the district including Water Closets (WCs), and about 50 old Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pits (KVIPs) have been rehabilitated.

The Planning Officer stressed that water quality testing is done through Aquaya Institute quarterly to enhance safe drinking water always in the area.

"we have provided hub services to bring together all our development partners in one office accommodation infrastructure. Community support and ownership, effective collaboration by partners and stakeholders are great milestone" he tauted.

Mr Asante bemoaned the inadequate funding and non rehabilitation of the ANAM WASH infrastructure in schools and health care facilities as the major setbacks of the initiative saying that together we can achieve a universal WASH coverage.

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