The Liberia Water Justice Forum was launched at the climax of a capacity building workshop held at the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, outside Monrovia. The group was established by Church Aid International (CAI), in collaboration with the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) and Africa Water Justice Network. The Forum aims to advocate for the rights of Liberians to access safe drinking water, particularly in rural areas where access to clean water is limited.
Speaking during the launch, CAI Chairman Bishop Kortu Brown emphasized the importance of leaders being accountable to the people and answering hard questions about access to water. He stressed that those who are unwilling to listen and respond to inquiries should not be leaders. Bishop Brown noted that the church and other religious leaders have a crucial role to play in advocating for the supply of accessible and affordable safe drinking water to citizens across the country.
The Secretary General of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), Rev. Christopher Toe, observed that despite Liberia having an abundance of water, access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in many households. He pointed out that the launch of the Forum is in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call for the provision of clean water and sanitation. Rev. Toe emphasized that church leaders have a responsibility to ensure that there is justice for water in Liberian society.
The acting Secretary General of FECCIWA, Mr. Michael Tettey, noted that access to water remains one of the biggest challenges on the African continent. He disclosed that the idea of the Forum in Liberia was birthed in Benin, and it took just two months to plan and establish the Forum. Mr. Tettey added that access to affordable water is critical to support development and social initiatives for the well-being of citizens.
Mr. Leonard S. Quartey, Coordinator of Africa Water Justice Network, commended CAI for leading the initiative and noted that approximately 400 million people on the African continent do not have access to safe drinking water. He said the launch of the Forum would help raise awareness and advocate for the provision of safe drinking water to citizens in Liberia. Mr. Quartey emphasized that various water systems across the African continent should be improved for the betterment of the citizenry.
The capacity building workshop marking the launch of the Forum brought together participants and facilitators from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo, Guinea, and other countries. The workshop aimed to build the capacity of participants to advocate for water justice and promote good sanitation accountability. The launch of the Liberia Water Justice Forum is a significant step towards ensuring that Liberians have access to safe drinking water, particularly in rural areas where access to clean water is limited.
Key points
- The Liberia Water Justice Forum was launched to advocate for the equitable and affordable provision of safe drinking water to citizens across Liberia.
- The group was established by Church Aid International (CAI), in collaboration with the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) and Africa Water Justice Network.
- Approximately 400 million people on the African continent do not have access to safe drinking water.
