Kumasi, May 8, GNA- Alhaji Mustapha Idris, Minister of Works and Housing, has re-affirmed the government's determination to put in place a credible policy that would provide practical solutions to problems in the water sector.

He said it was on the basis of this that a draft water policy has been prepared by the ministry.

Alhaji Idris was opening a consultative forum held in Kumasi to collate views and comments of stakeholders to fine-tune the draft policy on Friday.

It brought together key players of the water sector in the Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo regions.

Alhaji Idris said to help meet the water needs of the people, it was important to make sure that there was "greater efficiency in the management of the system we have now and proposed to establish". He said; "we must also formulate policies that can help to develop strategies and programmes on sustainable basis".

The Minister said policies so designed must relate and reflect existing situation and conditions in the country and provide platform or basis for future projections and reviews.

Alhaji Idris noted that adequate water supply was now a universal issue as the records showed that about 80 percent of all diseases and a third of deaths in developing countries are caused by consumption of polluted water.

The draft policy seeks to promote increased accessibility to water and sanitation services by those now un-served, provide the poor greater access to water supply, enhance quality services and improve reliability and security of supplies.