Plans to achieve universal WASH coverage by 2030
Published on: 07/02/2024
It is Tuesday morning - November 4 in Goaso, the Ahafo regional capital and the leadership of the region, the six local assemblies, traditional authorities, and development partners are gathered to collectively launch a unique initiative – the Ahafo regional water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programme in Ghana.
The three-fold event, convened by the Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in collaboration with IRC, started with a ministerial welcome and background overview, leading to the launch of the programme.
The Regional Minister, Hon. George Yaw Boakye who delivered the keynote address, unveiled the new WASH Master Plans for Asunafo North, Asunafo South, and Tano North, amidst traditional drumming and dancing. He said, "The launch of the Ahafo Regional WASH Programme, which entails the presentation of the new master plans is a momentous occasion for our communities. It demonstrates our dedication to ensuring every resident has access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services. We are grateful for the collaborative effort that has brought us to this point."
IRC Ghana Country Director, Mrs. Vida Duti stated, "We are thrilled to witness the official launch of the Ahafo regional WASH programme. This unique initiative represents an important step towards achieving our shared goal of universal WASH coverage in the region. We look forward to continued collaboration with the regional and district partners to turn these plans into impactful actions."
Districts engage partners with their new plans
The second session was a marketplace where the districts mounted stands and showcased their master plans. This was to engage participants with the aim of growing and leveraging partnerships for collective implementation.
The final part hosted the Ahafo partners' meeting, where the project implementation agenda was discussed and commitments obtained from partners present. Led by the RCC, mandated to coordinate, monitor and evaluate all development interventions in the region, this session was the start-up of a semi-annual engagement to coordinate the implementation of the integrated WASH programme through the district WASH master plans.
With this launch, the RCC with the support of all stakeholders are poised for immediate roll-out of the regional initiative towards universal WASH services in the region. Under the initiative, the two remaining districts without master plans in the region - Asutifi South and Tano South, will be supported to develop their master plans in 2024. The six-district WASH master plans will then be integrated into the regional programme - a unique opportunity to unite and pursue the vision of reaching everyone everywhere with access to WASH by 2030.
