Report by Ben LARYEA
The Ministry of Water Resources under the auspices of the Government of Sierra Leone has paid a working visit to the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah to explore the innovative ways and initiatives that Ghana have put in place to enhance the quality and safe water delivery to its citizenry and industry.
The delegation led by the Minister of Water Resources of Sierra Leone, Ing. Philip Karimu Lansana commended Ghana for the interventions made by government to prioritise water in its development agenda, adding that water cuts across every social and economic activity as well as human life.
He said as part of the efforts to revive the water sector, the government of Sierra Leone has contracted loan from the Exim Bank purposely to expand and revamp water production hence the delegation finds it prudent to engage the requisite technical knowhow from Ghana and apply same in their country, adding further that data on Ghana water delivery have performed tremendously in the water value chain.
The Minister disclosed that Sierra Leon have had challenges of illegal mining which have impacted negatively on its water bodies saying his ministry is working fervently to address the menace.
He therefore called on both countries to strengthen the cooperation in the water sector to create a platform for fruitful exchange of ideas and how best the two countries can work towards international best practices.
“My team will be visiting other parts of the country particularly Kumasi in the Ashanti region to have first-hand information on the operations of water delivery and apply the technology back home.
For her part, Mrs Cecilia Dapaah thanked the delegation for the confidence they had in the Ghana water delivery systems and explained that it is as a result of the prudent and pragmatic measures and mechanisms that her ministry have put in place and the support and collaboration from stakeholders.
According to her, water plays an essential role in the governance of every country hence her ministry does not work in isolation but creates linkages with the relevant agencies under the ministry and come out with the best engineering concepts which have tremendously transformed the supply of water to every part of the country.
She also brought to the fore issues relating to illegal mining which have affected and polluted water bodies in the country and pointed out that government have intensified its sensitisation programmes and policies to address polluted water bodies.
“Government have worked tirelessly in the water sector and have drastically reduced water borne diseases”, she said, adding that when water is not properly managed and treated well it brings rippling effects on the poor and the vulnerable.
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