World Water Day, celebrated on the 22nd of March every year since the year 1999 was a day set aside by the United Nations (UN) to highlight the importance of safe fresh water, raise awareness of the people living without access to safe water and advocate for the sustainable management of
water resources.
To mark this year’s World Water Day, the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA) and its partners celebrated the day with the people of Opah Community in the Ga West Municipality in the Greater Accra Region. This year’s celebration was on the theme “Accelerating Change”.
The event was attended by the Office of the Member of Parliament, GA West Municipal Assembly, Chief of the community, the Assembly Member, the National Commission for Civic Education, community members and school children.
Mr. Benjamin Anabila the Director of INSLA in his address mentioned that it is the fundamental right of all people without discrimination to safe and adequate water to meet their basic humanneeds. He continued to state that the overall goal of the National Water Policy of Ghana seeks to “achieve sustainable development, management and use of Ghana’s water resources to improve health and livelihoods, reduce vulnerability while assuring good governance for present and future generations”. He stated that there are still some communities in the Greater Accra Region who do not have access to potable water. He then called on Government to provide safe and adequate water to communities that are deprived of safe and potable water in the country.
Mr Anabila continued to state that, this year’s theme is directed at speeding change to solvewater and sanitation crisis whiles the global campaign theme: ‘Be The Change’ encourage people to take action in their own lives by changing the way they use, manage and consume
water. The Chief, Assembly member and people of the Opah community also appealed to government and the Ghana Water Company Limited to extend potable water to their community while calling on philanthropist and Non- Governmental Organizations to help them in drilling boreholes in the community as water has become scarce in the community.
Mr Elorm Amevagah who represented the Municipal Chief Executive said that water is a necessity and assured the people that their concerns and grievances will be channeled to the assembly to ensure that the community has access to potable water.