Accra, Nov 16, GNA – Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has been appointed to chair the Sanitation and Water for All partnership, the first high level chair of the partnership.

The Sanitation and Water for All High Level Meeting is held every two years and brings together Ministers of Finance from developing countries along with sector Ministers, and Ministers of Development Cooperation from donor countries and high-level representatives from development banks and other donor institutions.

A statement signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, the Spokesperson of the former President, said the Meeting addresses the lack of priority given to sanitation and water as a development intervention, the poor targeting of aid in the sector and the need for robust planning and institutions.

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is an alliance of governments, donors, civil society organizations, development partners and water and sanitation agencies.

It is working to increase funding, improve the efficiency of resource use and strengthen the evidence base for the water supply and sanitation sector.

The partnership convenes a biennial High Level Meeting to raise political awareness, supports countries in their efforts to develop action-oriented plans and works with UN-WATER and WHO to produce the Global Analysis and Assessment of Drinking Water and Sanitation report.

In accepting the position former President Kufuor said the dream of sanitation and water for every person was within reach but it would take a great deal of political will, adequate resources, and coordinated efforts.

“I am committed to making this happen, because I am not content to live in a world where 2.6 billion people lack access to a decent toilet and 900 million people do not have clean water to drink,” he said.

Former President Kufuor will chair the next SWA High Level Meeting at the World Bank in Washington, DC, on 20 April 2012 and will focus on the significant economic gains that can be made from investing in sanitation and water and the costs of failing to invest.

“Former President Kufuor has long been a campaigner for better access to water and sanitation.” said Darren Saywell, SWA Vice-Chair and Director at Plan International USA.

He said former President Kufuor’s leadership would help bring greater political attention to this neglected development issue.