WASH Master Plan programme launched in KEEA

Elmina(C/R), May 10, GNA - A master plan on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) project had been launched at Elmina in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality of the Central Region.

It is aimed at providing efficient and sustainable water, waste management and sanitation to over 160,000 residents of the area in the short-term and approximately 326,000 people by 2040.

The WASH Master Plan provides a framework for interventions in five sub-sectors for the coming years: water, drainage, solid/liquid waste, sanitation and hygiene.

The programme, which had the theme; 'Improving Sanitation and Hygiene in the Municipality from now till 2020 with a Clear Vision for 2040,' is being supported by the Government of Ghana and the Netherlands Government, as part of the Ghana-Netherlands WASH programme.

Launching the programme, Mr Isaac Kweku Sam, the Chief Executive of the KEEA Municipal Assembly, said the Assembly, had since 2011 been involved in the programme with four other Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies, including the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly.

He noted that, as part of the programme, a biomethanation plant had been constructed at Edina Essaman, in the Municipality to help in the treatment of liquid waste into organic fertilizer for farmers to improve the yield of their agricultural produce.

About 22 basic schools in the Municipality, in the interim, are also being provided with WASH facilities, to inculcate the habit of sanitation and hygiene behavioural change in the pupils, with the rest of the schools to be enrolled on the programme later.

The MCE called on the private sector, corporate bodies and the traditional authorities in the area to assist in the implementation of the sanitation activities and projects to ensure that the KEEA meet the objectives of the WASH programme.

He used the occasion to commend Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, the 2012 Presidential candidate for the Progressive People's Party (PPP), who is an indigene of the Municipality, for supporting the Assembly with GH¢20,000.00 towards sanitation improvement in the area.

Mr. Ole Kaare Jensen, team leader for the Ghana-Netherlands WASH Programme (GNWP), was hopeful both parties would commit themselves to the programme for its sustainability.

He thanked the facilitators of the programme, as well as the technical assistance team, and wished the KEEA the best in the implementation process.

Mr. Fred Smiet, first Secretary, Water and Climate of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, who represented the Netherlands Ambassador, indicated that, the KEEA Assembly's slogan; 'Development in Unity' was a true reflection of what the Assembly wanted to achieve in its development agenda.

He assured its partners of the Netherland's commitment to seeing to the successful completion of the programme in any capacity, and urged all stakeholders in the programme to ensure its long-term development.

Nana Kwesi Duncan 1, on behalf of the Edina Traditional Council, applauded the governments of Ghana and the Netherlands for their support in ensuring that the KEEA Municipality was filth-free.

He said residents must not see improvement in sanitation issues as a job for a particular institution, but as a shared responsibility which demanded every citizen's involvement.

He condemned the indiscriminate disposal of waste and open defaecation along the beaches, saying that, it does not promote tourism in the area and Ghana as a whole.

He appealed to the Netherlands government to provide residents in the area with mobile toilet vans, as well as plastic waste bins to avoid the pollution of the environment with solid and liquid waste.

The core values drive of the WASH Master Plan programme is to make the KEEA Municipality a pleasant place to live for all and delivery of high quality WASH services to citizens.

The WASH Programme is also being implemented in the Ga South, Ga Central and the Ga West Municipalities of the Greater-Accra Region.

GNA