IRC Ghana commends CONIWAS

The IRC Ghana on Wednesday commended the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) for consistency in organizing the MOLE conference hitting its 35th anniversary this year.

Mrs. Vida Duti, IRC Country Director, stated that the MOLE Conference plays a critical role in the promotion of the WASH sector.

She also lauded CONIWAS for the good work they are doing in the sector and reaffirmed IRC Ghana’s commitment to continue to provide the needed support to the coalition in driving the laudable agenda.

Mrs. Duti stated during a side event at the ongoing MOLEXXXV conference organized by CONIWAS, with support from the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, UNICEF, and the GAMA/GKMA Sanitation and Water Project, among others.

The conference is on the general theme, “Looking Back on SDG 6 Implementation in Ghana: Progress, Challenges, and Ways Forward."

The four main thematic subjects are institutional alignments and policies, approaches, strategies, and methods towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) in Ghana.

Mrs. Duti explained IRC Ghana plays a key role in complementing the government's efforts in getting services to the hard-to-reach areas.

The IRC Country Director also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the government to put in the needed systems and structures to drive the delivery of WASH services in the country.

Speaking in an interview with M-CODe, Mrs. Duti noted that IRC Ghana classified water and sanitation as a gateway to justice and opportunity for people.

“This truth powers our mission. We are an international non-profit that prides itself on tackling root causes and delivering holistic solutions. Piecemeal charity does not work. Our ambitions stretch further, and our interventions run deeper. Nothing less than sustainable, safe services will do,” she stated.

Mrs. Duti explained that the IRC does not parachute in and out of countries, stressing that “we are mostly citizens of the eight countries where we work: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Mali, Niger, and Uganda.

“We work directly with communities, experts, public servants, and decision-makers. We facilitate collective action with the government, water utilities, the private sector, NGOs, citizen groups, and entrepreneurs.

“Regionally and around the world, we work with banks, donors, and a range of institutions to support their effectiveness in delivering long-term solutions that last, not short-term projects that don't.”

Mrs. Duti said with over half a century of experience, “IRC knows that safe water and sanitation services can only be achieved through resilient systems—the networks of people, institutions, hardware, investment, and resources that deliver clean water to our taps that keep us safe.

“It is through our expertise in strengthening these systems that we drive improvements.

“We champion our systems approach globally and build alliances with wider leaders, experts, and activists to build a common cause across the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting water and sanitation as a gateway to tackle wider challenges and injustices.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, has opened a WASH Sector stakeholders’ exhibition as part of the ongoing MOLEXXXV Conference.

Stakeholders who have mounted an exhibition booth at the MOLE conference include the GAMA/GKMA Sanitation and Water Project, World Vision Ghana, CONIWAS, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, WaterAid, Plan International Ghana, the Bio-Digester Construction Centre, Catholic Relief Services, Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited.

The exhibition seeks to offer stakeholders, including organizations, resource centers, service providers, and manufacturers, the opportunity to exhibit their products and engage participants during the conference.

Ms. Alhassan charged sector players to work closely and collaborate to ensure maximizing their collective and individual powers.

Ms. Beata Awinpoka Akanyani, CONIWAS Chairperson, also told M-CODe that as the global community intensifies its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is a growing recognition of the vital importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.

She said at the heart of this push is the Mole WASH Conference, an annual gathering that brings together WASH practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders from across the globe to share insights and innovations and chart the course forward for the sector.

This year’s Mole XXXV WASH Conference started on October 6th and is expected to end on October 11th, 2024, in the scenic Volta Region, specifically in Ho.

The conference being organized by CONIWAS with support from the Ministry of Sanitation, UNICEF, and the GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, among others, is on the general theme, “Looking Back on SDG 6 Implementation in Ghana: Progress, Challenges, and Ways Forward."

The four main thematic subjects are institutional alignments and policies, approaches, strategies, and methods towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) in Ghana.

Among the institutions and organizations participating in the five-day MOLE35 Conference are the GAMA/GKMA Sanitation and Water Project, IRC Ghana, World Vision Ghana, and the Media Coalition Against Open Defecation (M-CODe).