Lack of access to clean water, public health concern

The lack of access to clean water and sanitation systems is central public health concerns in Ghana. The pre-requirements for major improvement of the quality are not sufficient, Mr. Kwaku Godwin Dovlo, Managing Director of Ghana Water Company has said.

Mr. Dovlo made this known at the official launch of the “World Water Monitoring Challenge Kits “in Accra on Wednesday.

The test kits are part of the European Union’s (EU) Project Capacity Building in Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance for Ghana would involve schools, communities and youth groups who would be mobilised to conduct water monitoring and education of their local water bodies.

The 350 kits would be used in a monitoring programme called the “World Water Monitoring Challenge” which is coordinated by Water Environment Federation and International Water Association internationally.

The kits would be supplied to beneficiary communities in the Ashanti, Greater Accra and Western regions, as well as the establishment of modern laboratories with qualified personnel to man them to ensure quality water delivery.

Mr. Dovlo said it had been the National Water Policy of Ghana to increase the coverage of drinking water supply nationwide with special emphasis on urban people who pay more for water supply services while receiving poor quality of water.

He said the goal of the project was to improve the Ghanaian water quality, and hence, the health situation in Ghana.“Sustainable national water quality testing, monitoring and surveillance within the service areas of Ghana Water Company Limited would be improved with the use of the kits and the laboratories”, Mr. Dovlo said.

The Managing Director explained that to ensure awareness and knowledge about the water quality monitoring, the project targets a contribution to extend awareness within governmental institutions, the general public and operators, regarding drinking water and environmental water resources quality.