Coalition strategises to assess Ghana’s urban water supply situation
The Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) with funding from Water Aid, Ghana, has strategised with its members to assess the urban water supply situation in Ghana.
It has adopted what is known as Citizen’s Engagement Tool and Community Score Card to enable beneficiaries of projects and services to have access to information on the services they are enjoying.
Mr Emmanuel Adisenu, Programme officer of ProNet Association, an NGO, and member of the coalition, undertook the community score card exercise at Sabon Zongo in the Ablekuma Central Sub-Metro District to draw an action plan with the responsibilities given to either the service provider or community members.
He explained that the processes involved in the use of the tool were such that service users would have a fair knowledge of the work of the service provider and their strengths and weaknesses.
Other key issues identified by the community members from the score card with no action taken by the service providers included over billing of water users, increase in service provider’s staffing, lack of swift response to complaints and communication by the service providers and more seriously was the misuse of fire hydrants by people who have covered them with containers and kiosks near their homes.
“The Action Learning Plan is a process with steps which includes reflection on the agreed actions points which were developed, what activities have been undertaken and others not taken, the actions which were not met are either discarded or taken again as actions with new responsibilities and the discussion of new challenges that confront water services delivery in the communities,” he said.
Mr Kwaku Amos, District Engineer of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), responding to some of the key problems identified, warned community members not to place containers and kiosks on fire hydrants to discourage fire officers.
He advised the community members to prevent the continuous wastage of treated water and warned all commercial customers to pay their bills promptly to ensure the smooth running of the GWCL.
Miss Jane Oku of Janok Foundation and member of the coalition, expressed gratitude to Water Aid for supporting the programme.
Source: GNA