In Ghana, the lack of clean and safe water sources is a widespread challenge in rural communities. World Vision Ghana is committed to providing clean and safe water to vulnerable communities in Ghana. According to UNICEF, 76% of households in Ghana are at risk of drinking water contaminated with faecal matter, which highlights the severity of the situation.
Francis Gumah, Northern Regional Operations Manager for World Vision Ghana, said that lack of clean and safe water makes children more vulnerable and denies them good health and a brighter future. Climate change is affecting the availability of fresh water for communities, and it is also causing waterbodies to dry up and become polluted due to mining and agricultural activities. This, coupled with the effects of climate change, poses a threat to peace and security, that requires immediate action.
World Vision Ghana is committed to improving access to clean water in rural communities as it can lead to a significant reduction in waterborne diseases and improved health outcomes for children and adults. It can also increase productivity and economic growth by reducing the time women and children spend fetching water, allowing them to focus on education and income-generating and livelihood activities that will transform their lives.
World Vision Ghana has constructed 1,806 boreholes with hand pumps, 2,17 mechanised water systems, and connected 2,112 taps from the mechanised water systems, providing clean and safe water to over one million people and reaching 1,138,571 people with quality sanitation and hygiene services in the last 10 years. This intervention ensures that everyone in World Vision Ghana’s operational areas has access to clean and safe water.
The organisation believes that improving access to clean water in rural communities can have far-reaching effects, and it is part of its contribution to Ghana’s efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As we celebrate this year’s World Water Day, World Vision Ghana urges all stakeholders to use the occasion to reflect on and commit to the sustainable use of water in order to avoid shortfalls in water supply, which can lead to conflict
