Ghana's 2024 WASH Week: Stakeholders urged to double efforts for accelerated action

The 2024 Ghana WASH Week conference has ended with a resounding call to action from the Ghana Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS), charging stakeholders in the WASH sector to double their efforts through coordinated action.

The WASH Week, which was observed across the country, brought together public and private sector operators, civil society organizations, and the media and aimed to accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6): access to safe water and sanitation for all.

The 2024 Ghana WASH Week was organized by CONIWAS on the general theme “WASH Prioritization and Its Impacts on Social Development."

Ms. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, Chairperson of CONIWAS, in an interview to formally close the session emphasized that despite progress made, Ghana still faces significant WASH challenges, including limited access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, particularly in rural and urban poor communities.

She reiterated the call on stakeholders in the WASH sector to work together through a coordinated platform to increase investment in WASH infrastructure, promote sustainable management of water resources, and enhance public education and awareness on good hygiene practices.

She also stressed the need for support for research and adoption of innovation in WASH technologies and to enhance advocacy for policies and regulations that support WASH development.

The CONIWAS Chairperson's call to action was echoed by other stakeholders, who emphasized the need for collective responsibility and collaboration to achieve SDG 6.

The conference also featured exhibitions, workshops, and panel discussions, showcasing innovative WASH solutions, best practices, and success stories.

Ms. Awinpoka Akanyani noted: “As Ghana's 2024 WASH Week comes to a close, I encourage all stakeholders to continue the momentum, working together to ensure that all Ghanaians have access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, and achieving SDG6 by 2030. The time for action is now!"

She stressed the urgent need to raise awareness about the importance of coordinated action in the WASH sector to achieve SDG6 in Ghana.

The topics discussed during the week-long programmes included “WASH for Enhancing Public Health and Disease Prevention,” “WASH prioritization and its impacts on social development,” “General Overview of WASH: Neglected Tropical Diseases,” and Institutional Framework for Climate-Resilient, Safe, and Sustainable WASH Service Delivery.”

As part of the deliberations, CONIWAS committed to continuing its efforts to ensure upscale advocacy for all Ghanaians to have access to safe water and sanitation, recognizing the critical role WASH plays in enhancing public health and disease prevention.

The 2024 Ghana WASH Week served as a platform to highlight the essential role of WASH in achieving the SDGs and its impact on public health, economic growth, educational outcomes, social equity, and environmental sustainability.

The dialogue brought together various stakeholders, including government representatives, development partners, WASH sector players, the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe), and the media.

The 2024 WASH Week included activities such as stakeholder engagements, media campaigns, sanitation walks, school visits, and religious teachings on WASH.

The event was supported by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, the World Bank, the GAMA SWP project, UNICEF, the IRC, WaterAid Ghana, Global Communities, Plan International Ghana, SNV, CRS, APDO, and PATH Ghana.