200,000 Household Toilets To Be Constructed Next Year

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water resources would provide 200,000 household toilets and 20,000 Institutional latrines to selected communities under the 'Toilet for All' agenda.

The provision was in a bid to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on ending open defecation.

Mr Ken Ofori- Atta, the Minister of Finance, announced this on Wednesday when presenting the 2018 Fiscal Budget in Parliament.

He said six unauthorised dump sites were evacuated in the Accra Metropolis and in addition, the Ministry would acquire and develop material recovery sites such as waste transfer stations and final disposal sites in every region to ensure the sorting and temporary holding of solid waste prior to treatment at the waste processing plants.

On Water Management programme, he said the Dam Safety Regulations L.I. 2236 was adopted to support the development, management, commissioning and decommissioning of diverse water storage facilities throughout the country and is expected to enhance the implementation of the 'One-Village-One-Dam' initiative.

'In addition, the Ministry continued with the management of the 10.2km buffer zone created in the White Volta basin to protect, conserve and sustain fresh water resources. In 2018, the Ministry will ensure the continuous implementation and enforcement of the buffer zone policies,' he added.

Mr Ofori- Atta also said the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) was improved to aid accurate flood forecasting in the White Volta basin in the course of the year.

That, he said, led to the development of a new FEWS for the Oti Basin to serve as a trans-boundary model for both Ghana and Togo.

The Ministry also commissioned the Wa Water Supply Project and completed the Cape Coast Water Supply Project, Essakyir Water Supply Project - Addendum 1, Akim Oda, Akwatia and Winneba Water Supply Projects.

He said the Ministry through Community Water and Sanitation Agency would implement Phase 2 of the Sustainable Rural Water Supply Project, which would see to the construction of about 50 small town water pipe schemes and over 300 boreholes.

'In 2018, the Ministry will undertake expansion works in Kpong Water Supply Expansion Project - Phase 2, Aqua Africa Water Project, Yendi Water Project, Damongo Water Project, Tamale Water Supply Project, Sunyani Water Project, Sekondi-Takoradi Water Project, Essiama Water Project and the Navrongo Water Supply Project,' he added.