World Vision Ghana has set a target to deliver at least 90 percent universal access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services across targeted rural communities in the Asunafo North Municipality and Asutifi North District of the Ahafo region over the next five years. The goal is to address the current lack of access to improved water quality in some rural communities, forcing residents to trek long distances to neighboring towns to queue for safe water.
The rural communities in the two districts currently face significant challenges in accessing safe water, with some residents resorting to untreated water sources. This has significant implications for public health, with preventable waterborne illnesses being a major concern. World Vision Ghana's initiative aims to address this issue by providing access to improved water quality and sanitation facilities.
Speaking to JoyNews on the sidelines of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between World Vision Ghana and the two district assemblies, Acting National Director, Joshua Baidoo, highlighted the core motivation behind the initiative. He emphasized that one of the core objectives of World Vision is to ensure that children have life in its fullest, and that WASH services are a critical component of this vision.
Asunafo North Municipal and Asutifi North District Coordinating Directors Benjamin Owusu Afriyie and Abdul-Aziz Gafaru acknowledged that their mandate of WASH provision could not be executed alone due to limited local government resources. They noted that the partnership with World Vision will make water easily accessible to rural communities, and that the quality of the water is key.
The 90 percent universal access target directly advances key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation, 3 on Good Health and Well-Being, 5 on Gender Equality, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Development analysts view the partnership as a critical bridge over the persistent financing gap facing local assemblies.
Under the agreement, the Asunafo North Municipal and Asutifi North District Assemblies are tasked with facilitating community entry, mobilization, and leadership engagement, alongside contributing locally available resources, supporting maintenance, and strictly enforcing local sanitation by-laws. For its part, World Vision Ghana is responsible for providing technical expertise, training, and financial and material resources.
Public health experts emphasize that prioritizing water quality over basic access marks a pivotal shift, as extending safely managed water systems directly safeguards child health and reduces preventable waterborne illnesses in communities relying on untreated sources. The partnership between World Vision Ghana and the two district assemblies is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of rural communities in the Ahafo region.
Key points
- World Vision Ghana aims to achieve 90% universal access to WASH infrastructure in rural communities in Asunafo North and Asutifi North districts.
- The partnership between World Vision Ghana and the two district assemblies aims to address the current lack of access to improved water quality in some rural communities.
- The initiative directly advances key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 3, 5, and 17.
