WaterAid Country Director Installed as Development Queenmother of Bongo

Bongo: Ms Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)-focused organisation, has been installed as a Development Queenmother in the Bongo Traditional Area. With the skin name 'Kosom Pognaba' (Queenmother of Potable Water), she was honoured for leading the implementation of WaterAid Ghana's strategic plan to ensure universal access to potable water and other WASH-related needs in the Bongo District. According to Ghana News Agency, the strategic plan has enabled Bongo to be adopted as a model district for WaterAid Ghana. This initiative involves close collaboration with local government structures, traditional authorities, residents, and development partners to ensure every household in Bongo has access to potable water. The organisation is not only providing water infrastructure for communities, institutions, and public spaces but is also working with relevant stakeholders to redirect treated water from the Vea Dam to serve the people of Bongo. This initi ative aims to tackle the high fluoride concentration in underground water, a longstanding issue in Bongo that has impacted residents for decades. In addition, WaterAid Ghana has launched a sanitation challenge in the district, working with traditional authorities to educate communities about the dangers of open defecation and mobilising them to eradicate the practice. The sanitation initiative has also led to the creation of a Sanitation Fund to assist poor and vulnerable households in constructing toilet facilities, contributing to the fight against open defecation and promoting environmental cleanliness. Bonaba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, expressed that the installation was well-deserved due to WaterAid Ghana's significant contributions to improving the quality of life for the people. He emphasized the importance of water for achieving any of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and expressed gratitude for WaterAid Ghana's support in achieving universal access. He also reaffirmed the Traditional Council's commitment to collaborating with development partners, particularly WaterAid Ghana, to address WASH-related challenges, with a focus on water availability to enhance livelihoods. He welcomed Ms Yanyi-Akofur as one of the queenmothers and urged her to continue advocating for more development for Bongo. Pognaba Christiana Nge, Paramount Queenmother of the Bongo Traditional Area, who performed the installation rites, highlighted the impact on women and girls in areas lacking potable water and pledged her support to ensure access to water at all levels. At the same ceremony, Ms Lee Eun Mi, now known as Awinbono Salifu through naturalisation as a Ghanaian, Managing Director of Divine World Mission, was also installed as 'Tinsongre Pognaba' (Queenmother of Community Development) for her contributions to community empowerment, especially for women and girls. Divine World Mission, along with its partners, has provided educational and agric ultural infrastructure and tools to enhance rural farming activities and has built three technical and vocational centres to train young girls and women in various trades, such as smock and cloth weaving. The installation of the two queenmothers signifies their integration into the traditional area and their involvement in decision-making processes, particularly regarding issues in their fields.