Sanitation master plan workshop held for sanitation stakeholders
The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resource (MSWR) has engaged relevant stakeholders for the preparation of an Integrated Urban Environmental Sanitation Master Plan (IUESMP).
They are also expected to prepare preliminary engineering designs of proposed prioritised interventions for immediate implementation by the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area – Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA-SWP).
The plan would ensure cohesion among all the 11 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the GAMA project to enhance efficiency in the tackling of challenges to improve household sanitation and environmental hygiene in their communities.
The GAMA-SWP, which is being sponsored by the World Bank, is expected to provide a comprehensive assessment of the existing situation with respect to environmental sanitation and storm water drainage in GAMA areas.
Mr George Asiedu, a Consultant and Coordinator of GAMA-SWP, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said effective sustainable management of the environmental sanitation chain for transportation, collection and treatment would be implemented in all the 11 MMDAs.
He said: “The IUESMP will ensure the prevention of erosion and minimisation of flooding in identified flood-prone areas, reduction of pollution of streams by industrials effluents, sewage and solid waste, and development of appropriate policies, legal and institutional framework to strengthen the management of environmental sanitation in GAMA.”
Mr Asiedu said the MSWR would apply part of proceeds from the GAMA-SWP for the development of the IUESMP in a prioritised manner (non-structural and structural solutions).
He said as part of the IUESMP programme a National Technical Working Group (NTWG) has been formed to ensure collaboration of stakeholders, oversee the development and effective implementation of the integrated project.
He said the NTWG members would discuss the consultant’s work plan as well as stakeholders’ collaborative support for the assignment.
Mr Rajeev Kumar Sharma, the Team Leader and Environmental Engineer providing the consulting services to the MSWR for the preparation of the master plan, introduced to the stakeholders the scope of the assignment, mobilisation and work plan, schedule of deliverable and expected collaboration towards the IUESMP.
Source: GNA