CWSA engages stakeholders on reforms

The Community Water and Sanitation Agency has installed about 5,570 manual service meters to improve measurement of water consumption and revenue as well as Cleaning and redevelopment of water quality re-assessment of 132 bore holes in 51 Small towns across the country.

Also, rehabilitation and expansion of Seniagya, Vakpo, Teviefe, Mim and other water systems ongoing alongside Procurement of submersible pumps for 42 boreholes in the Brong Ahafo, Volta and Upper West Regions also kicks off.

This came to light during a meeting between Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) and the Water Resource Commission on the wash sector policy reforms to deliberate on the achievements of the agency in its reforms year in Accra.

According to the Chief Executive of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Ing. Worlanyo K. Siabi, massive rehabilitation and expansion works has taken place in most areas including Kweiman-Danfa Water Supply Scheme and installations of 404 bulk meters have been done to improve recording of production and distribution, and estimation of non-revenue water.

“Water Safety Specialist have been engaged and water safety plans developed for about 100 piped water systems and thankfully, Ghana can now provide data to WHO as part of its obligations towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 6 ” He intimated.

Mr Worlanyo K. Siabi however bemoaned the high iron content discovered in most of its water sources which he intimated has been the bane of the agencies problems coupled with the poor maintenance of the aqualyt systems among many other challenges which he explained necessitated the reforms.

He was however happy that half of the problems in the past three years have been fixed and the remaining being observed for quick interventions as soon as funding is accessed.

Mr. Martin Derry, the Executive Chairman lauded the reform as being opportune and necessary to streamline water portability and accessibility across the country through guaranteed proper water management practices.

“Difficulties and uncertainties in connection to the reforms is imminent but, the desire to make it work seem stronger and this is the attitude required for any kind of reform that would work to achieve accountability through proper management,” he said, adding that CONIWAS is ready to provide all the support required to safeguard the success of the reform regardless of the impediments that may arise.

The engagement with stakeholders is key and significant to achieve visible results for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goal six and necessary for the reforms to take shape.

Mr. Mutala Abdul Mumin, a senior planning and investment analyst with CWSA in a presentation outlined the achievement connected to the reforms which he said is a model to save the huge public investments in WASH infrastructure from deterioration and will create a common pool of resources for the operation and maintenance of existing systems and provide new water infrastructure to communities with no access to support government’s ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ aspiration.

The ongoing engagements will also involve the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) and Ghana Water Company Limited
(GWCL).