News:
May 8, 2020
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah had joined her colleague Ministers in Africa in a virtual conference on water.
The conference was to promote cooperation, security, social, economic development, and reduce poverty among member states through effective management of the continent’s water resources and the provision of water supply services.
According to a statement from the Ministry, the online African Ministers’ Conference on Water (AMCOW) was held at the instance of the AMCOW resident Pascal Houangui Ambouroue, Minister for Water and Energy of the Republic of Gabon.
The African Ministers’ Conference on Water (AMCOW) is the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment under the auspices of the African Union Commission.
In a statement issued by the Ministry, it further pointed out that discussion focused on coordination of programmes of member states in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the readiness of member states in the WASH sector to tap into the World Bank Emergency Fund and the proposal to hold the 12th Extra Ordinary meeting of the Bureau of the Executive Committee (EXCO) scheduled for the 2nd of June, 2020.
Sanitation and Water Resources Minister of Ghana outlined measures taken by government to combat the spread of the novel COVID-19, as free distribution of water to vulnerable communities throughout the country and the decision of government to absorb the water bills of Ghanaians for the month of April, May and June and distribution of veronica buckets to Institutions and Organisatioins and public places to promote effective hand washing.
Availability of water and sanitation services especially to the vulnerable people living in slums and observing the World Health Organisation protocol can contain the spread of the pandemic, madam Abena Dapaah pointed out.
At the end of the deliberations, member states affirmed the decision that AMCOW Secretariat and the respective Technical Advisory Committee members synthesize their respective Country programmes into a composite work plan to be forwarded to Development partners for support.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com