Budgetary support for the provision of water drops

By Ama Achiaa Amankwah
Government budgetary support for the provision of potable water to rural communities has dropped drastically, according to the Acting Chief Executive of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, (CWSA), Mr. Robert Van-Ess. As a result, 48% of Ghanaians in these communities and towns are without good drinking water.


Mr. Van-Ess said all efforts by his outfit to get parliament to review budget allocation to the agency have fallen on deaf ears. He disclosed that government only showed some level of commitment to rural water delivery only when the country’s development partners threatened to withdraw their services. “There is a shortfall in budget allocation. It took development partners to try to find a solution which was not even sustainable.”

Mr. Van Ess stated these when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Water Resources, Works and Housing paid a working visit to the CWSA head office in Accra. It was to update the Members of Parliament on the agency’s progress of work, projects and challenges constraining the expected delivery of water and sanitation facilities to rural communities and small towns.

Mr. Van Ess stated that about 90% of the money for water delivery to rural communities are grants. He told the MPs that the issue was a crucial one for them to deal with, otherwise the donors will cut their support.

He said currently the agency is operating without a board of directors, adding that the agency is understaffed with a mere 200 staff countrywide.

Responding to the concerns expressed by CWSA, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Water Resources, Works and Housing, Hon. Samuel Johnfiah conceded that CWSA was lagging behind in water delivery and that government needed to urgently intervene.

“Water is life and has no substitute. Therefore we will ensure that the people of Ghana have water.” He assured the committee will meet with the relevant sectors including the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning, as well as Water Resources, Works and Housing.

The CWSA was established by an act of parliament, Act 564 in 1998 to provide water and sanitation in rural Ghana. It has so far covered 52% of the Ghana. From this period, 9,958 new water points, 524 new pipe systems and 7619 rehabilitation systems have been completed and delivered to beneficiaries who are enjoying potable water.

Mr. Van-Ess described as unfortunate the fact that Ghana ranks second to Sudan as a guinea worm endemic country.