AU calls for commitment to address water, sanitation issues

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Chairperson
of the African Union (AU), on Friday called for concerted efforts to address challenges of climate change, water, sanitation and the oil and food crisis, impacting negatively on the lives of Africans.
"Unless Africa pays particular attention to these existing and emerging challenges, it will be very difficult. If not impossible, to bring about sustainable socio-economic development to Africans," she noted.
President Kikwete made the call in a message read for him at a flag raising ceremony to commemorate the 45th AU Day in Accra. The Day was on the theme: "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) on Water and Sanitation".
Mr. Tete Jean-Pierre Gbikpi-Benissan, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, read the message at the ceremony, marked on Friday because the officially date, May 25, falls on Sunday.
President Kikwete said the potential of Africa's growth and development was linked with its environment as a determinant factor of health and wealth.
He stated that the Day therefore provided an opportunity to reflect collectively and individually on the impact of previous actions and map up strategies for years ahead to reverse the trend.
The AU Chairperson said 2007 was challenging to the continent in view of unprecedented floods in 17 Africa countries, accounting for destruction of crops, livestock, property and other infrastructure.
Climate change, President Kikwete said, also compounded the challenges of drought and access to potable water, thus resulting in food insecurity, malnutrition, poor health and poverty.
He noted that the theme was therefore chosen as a demonstration of the importance African leaders attached to accelerate water security for social, economic and environmental development, in line with the MDGs.
The AU Chairperson said, although the continent had made positive strides in water supply sector, especially access to urban areas, it was behind in meeting target of providing access to 50 per cent of its population by 2015.
He indicated that only 30 per cent of Africa's population had access to improved sanitation and urged member states to double their efforts to achieve the MDGs target on sanitation as well.
President Kikwete, hinted that issues on climate change, water, sanitation, HIV/AIDS, malaria and the global oil crisis would be high on the agenda at the forthcoming AU Summit slated for June 24 to July 1st.
He therefore called for the support of all regional economic communities, civil society organizations, and development partners, particularly the UN agencies to address all such challenges.


Mr Joe Ghartey, Minister of Justice and Attorney General said adopting strategies to improve water and sanitation was necessary in order that Africa would not be the odd one when the reports on the achievement on the MDGs were out.
He noted that a World Health Organization has estimated that, 40,000 children under age of five years die every year due to poor sanitation and non-availability to safe drinking water.
The Minister expressed worry on the slow progress in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve targets of the MDGS and asked for the expedition of actions and strategies to reverse the trend.
Mr. Ghartey stated that Ghana had not relented in efforts to improve sanitation and access to potable water in line with the MDGs, and pledged government's commitment to support the AU to realise its objectives.
The ceremony was herald with a colourful parade mounted by the First Battalion Infantry Brigade Corps, Michelle Camp, and the Armed Forces Central Band, consisting of 61 men and three officers.
The AU, formerly known as the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established in 1953 with the objective of promoting unity and solidarity as well as sovereignty among member states.
It commemorates the Day annually to provide Africans the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to ideals of the AU.