Accra: Mr Leonard Shang-Quartey, Coordinator of African Water Justice, a civil society group, has urged the government to prioritize investment in the water sector to address the challenges facing both urban and rural areas. The lack of financial commitment has resulted in broken water systems, and Mr Shang-Quartey emphasized the need for more resources to improve citizens' well-being.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Shang-Quartey made these remarks during the launch of the Ghana Water Justice campaign in Accra, organized by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), a civil society organization. The campaign aims to mobilize citizens' voices to demand affordable and equitable access to water. He expressed concern over the government's failure to meet its water targets, citing that only eight out of a targeted 48 small-town water system rehabilitations were completed by 2025.
Mr Shang-Quartey highlighted the importance of proper investment in the water sector to address health-related issues, support school activities, and benefit other sectors. He noted significant underutilization of the budget, delays in rural infrastructure development, and rising environmental threats such as illegal mining, calling for urgent government attention.
He proposed the creation of a central groundwater database and a shared community borehole system to ensure inclusivity in water delivery. Additionally, he urged the government to upgrade treatment plants with advanced filtration and ensure public disclosure of water quality compliance audits.
Mr Samson Danse, Executive Director of ISODEC, emphasized the need to sustain the Ghana Water Justice campaign, which began in 2004, to ensure duty bearers fulfill their roles efficiently. He stressed that water is essential for human survival and must be accessible and affordable for all. ISODEC and its partners will continue to advocate for water as a fundamental human right rather than a commodity.
Mr Geoffrey Ocanssey, Chairman of ISODEC, described the campaign as a protest against water injustice. He stressed the importance of treating water as a basic human right and called for sustained measures to make water affordable for low-income and vulnerable households. Investment in water infrastructure, he said, is crucial to extending services to underserved communities.