Ghana Integrity Initiative advocates for public participation in water management

The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) Mr Vitus Azeem on Friday stressed the need for the involvement of water users in water management in the country.

This he said would ensure that beneficiaries are empowered to play a meaningful role in the management of water resources and also ensure transparency and accountability.

Mr Azeem said this at a day’s workshop organised by GII to launch the Ghana National Water Supply study report in Cape Coast.

The workshop which was attended by assembly members, officials of the Ghana Water Company limited (GWCL), media, non-governmental organisations and a cross section of the public was to outline water resources solution, water sector governance, rural and urban water supply.

Mr Azeem noted that the numerous interventions and investments in the water sector would not yield the needed results if the beneficiaries of water supply were not involved in management and production.

He stressed the need for the strengthening of the compliant mechanism for users and the provision of adequate whistle blowing protection to promote meaningful citizen participation and the stepping up of the monitoring and oversight mechanism.

This Mr Azeem said should include the oversight committee, ombudsman offices and complaints offices.

He said it is imperative for the creation of an anti corruption awareness and system within public organisations so that they could co-operate with civil society effectively to ensure that fraud can be prevented.

Touching on  sanitation  he said it  has become a major problem for  most cities due to the  lack of proper planning and enforcement of building regulations  coupled with  choked gutters, which served as  breeding grounds for  mosquitoes resulting in high rates of malaria especially among  women and children.

Source: GNA