Accra, Aug. 18, GNA - The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) would on Thursday, August 19, launch the Ghana Compact on Water and Sanitation for All Initiative in Accra.

A statement issued in Accra on Wednesday said it was in line with government's commitment to providing accelerated and sustainable access to sanitation and provision of safe water in the country.

It said the Compact with its increased commitment was a manifestation of the Government's own pledge and resolved to enhance access to sanitation and safe water for all.

The statement said this informed government's decision to join a global partnership titled "Sanitation and Water for ALL: A Global Framework for Action (SWA)" aimed at addressing critical barriers to achieving universal and sustainable access to sanitation and safe water.

It said government mindful of the fact that the aims and aspirations of the Global Partnership augment its own plans for sanitation and water, had made unprecedented commitments towards the improvement of sanitation and water situation compiled into a compact.

Highlights of the renewed commitments include; designation of the sanitation and water sector as part of essential services category.

Others are allocations of at least 200 million dollars annually towards sanitation and water improvements to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets and sustain improvements beyond 2015.

The rest are commitment to make additional allocations of 150 million dollars annually towards hygienic treatment and disposal of sewage and faecal sludge as well as storm water management.

Commitment to make further allocations up to the threshold of 0.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to cover capacity building for hygiene has been made.

Undertaking to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Environmental health and Sanitation Directorate and the Water Directorate with increased budget allocations in the 2011 budget statement.