Stakeholders confer to improve access to WASH facilities in Bongo District

A high-powered delegation of WaterAid Trustees has engaged relevant stakeholders in Bongo towards improving access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in the district.

The meeting, called at the instance of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, was to among other things explore opportunities to addressing challenges for strengthening WASH systems in the region.

Also, it was to introduce WaterAid district-wide approach for sustainable WASH coverage in Bongo and to highlight the importance of joint efforts of stakeholders for enhanced synergy for their mutual benefit.

WaterAid Ghana’s new five-year country strategy, with a special focus on Bongo District, aims to ensure that there is universal access to sustainable, safe, inclusive and climate-resilient WASH so that lessons can be replicated in other areas.

In the Bongo District, it would support achieving and maintaining its vision of universal access to WASH by strengthening long-term partnerships, as well as working together to make significant progress in delivering universal access to WASH for 120,000 by 2028.

Partnership essential

At the meeting in Bolgatanga, Rachel Westcott, one of the WaterAid Trustees, said partnership between the organisation and actors, especially those in Bongo District was essential towards improving access to WASH facilities.

She noted that since the launch of the new country focus on Bongo, they were inspired with the enthusiasm and commitment towards achieving the goals spelt out in the strategy in the area.

She said “obviously, this brings to life the importance of partnership in achieving universal access to WASH facilities so that residents can live dignified lives in their respective communities”.

Access

The Communications and Fund-raising Committee Chair, Nina Jasinski, was particularly happy about the enthusiasm among the people to improve the current state of WASH access in the district.

She stressed: “Frankly, the high level of commitment among you is the only way the situation in the district can be improved for the benefit of all.”

For her part, WaterAid Ghana Country Director, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, said the visit by the trustees to Ghana was to learn at first-hand from partners and residents of communities on what could be done to accelerate access to WASH facilities.

Other speakers

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bongo, Rita Atanga, and the Paramount Chief of the area, Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, both thanked WaterAid for their relentless efforts to ensure that access to WASH was improved in the area.

In a welcome address, the Chief Director of the RCC, Alhaji Abubakari Inusah, said although there was special attention on Bongo, there were several other districts in the region with similar challenges.

Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh