Asutifi North District Assembly on Wednesday 24, August held a meeting with it’s stakeholders to introduce WaterAid to it’s stakeholders as the new partner to the Asutifi North Ahonidie Mpuntuo (ANAM) WASH Initiative.
In 2017, the district together with it’s partners started the initiative to implement a thirteen year WASH masterplan for the purpose of promoting universal access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene services to about 84,420 people within the district in line with the sustainable development goal 6.
WaterAid is a NGO working in Ghana since 1985. Their focus, most importantly is to promote WASH services by influencing investment in WASH using policy research, lobbying, advocacy and working with others to strengthen national and local systems, as well as our direct contributions to improved and new WASH services.
The meeting which took place at the District Assembly Hall also discussed the WaterAid WASH in Healthcare Faclities (HCFs) Project which is being undertaken in Asutifi North and Wassa East districts for a period of 12 months. The project is funded by Conrad Hilton Foundation with a USD234,000 grant.
In his welcome address, District Chief Executive, Honourable Anthony Mensah explained, “they are here to add on to what we together with the other partners have already being engaged in. As it is said that cleanliness is next to godliness, it is only right to get more partners on board to achieve our goal in time”.
Acting Programs Officer, Seyram Ama Asimah in outlining the project’s estimated outcomes highlighted that they will be working to ensure a robust project response, develop evidence base for policy advocacy work, mobilize civil and social accountability, policy maker capacity to fulfill responsibilities and to give it a global engagement.
In response to concerns of whether the project will construct WASH facilities, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns for WaterAid, George Yorke said, “every donor have their interests. The interest of this donor is not on building facilities for now. They have already sponsored other partnering NGO’s to build facilities here since the initiative’s inception. We are here in their bid to expand their agreement”.
He further added that, “To avoid duplicity of efforts, we, for this 12 moths will be working hand in hand with the other NGO’s to study the progress of existing efforts, find the gaps and help to close them. All of this is to ensure sustenance of existing efforts”.
Nananom, together with all stakeholders expressed gratitude to Conrad Hilton Foundation for their continuous efforts toward assisting the district to achieving the sustainable development goal 6. They further pledged their total collaboration and support toward the WaterAid for HCFs Project.
Amongst stakeholders present were Nananom, CSO’s, District Assembly staff, Youth groups, Health directorate staff and Assembly members.
By Eli Kwame Senyega.