Cape Coast, July 19, GNA – The country records about 40 billion cubic metres of rainfall annually which is equal to nine trillion gallons of water, Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing had said.

He said it was unfortunate that a large volume of that amount of rainwater go waste and called for a pragmatic approach to harvest and store rain water.

Mr Bagbin who said this at the Central Regional water forum for stakeholders in the water industry at Cape Coast over the weekend, regretted that there was no comprehensive national development programme on water.

He said the Ministry was currently in the process of preparing a strategic sector development programme on water and sanitation to help preserve potable water.

He expressed worry that the high rate of pollution due to the use of agro-chemicals in farming and illegal mining were threatening the quality of water sources and appealed to all stakeholders to collectively develop strategies to help save the situation.

Mr Bagbin pledged government’s commitment to end the perennial water shortage in most communities, particularly in the rural areas and along the coasts in the country.