Accra, March 22, GNA - Mr Alban Bagbin, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, on Monday said the Ministry's vision for the water and sanitation sector was to ensure an effective coordination and management of activities. He said currently coordination and management of activities within the sector was weak, resulting in waste and misuse of funds which could have been used to provide water and sanitation facilities for other deprived communities.

Mr Bagbin was addressing the opening session of a four-day workshop on "Sector Wide Approach" project to provide a platform for dialogue between the government, donors, NGOs, and civil society organizations in Accra. The project is expected to be developed into a sector development plan to serve as an outline and guide the provision of integrated water and sanitation services.

He noted that the project could help reduce the overall cost of delivering on plans and programmes.

On the celebration of World Water Day, which falls on March 22, Mr Bagbin said government's policy would ensure that water as a resource was managed and utilised on a sustainable basis. He said in addition, government would ensure the provision of potable and sufficient water to satisfy the basic requirement of every Ghanaian. This year's celebration is under the theme: "Clean Water for a Healthy World".

Mr Kurt Cornelis, Head of Cooperation, European Union (EU) in Ghana, cautioned that funding opportunities in the sector could be missed if real strategies and steps were not taken to harmonise the sector. He therefore urged government to re-assess and refine how various stakeholders within the sector could work together to effectively manage their activities.

"Having a policy is a good starting point but this must be complemented by a realistic and prioritised sector development plan. This plan should highlight and cost priority areas for investment and set realistic annual goals," Mr Cornelis stressed.

He expressed concern about government's budgetary allocation to the sector and pointed out that only about three per cent of the budget was allocated to water and sanitation.

"All will no doubt agree that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning should not channel most of the tax payers' money into a sector which does not demonstrate the minimum requirement for planning and monitoring, no matter how vital it may be," Mr Cornelis said. He expressed the EU's endorsement for the Sector Wide Approach project.

Mr Ventura Bengoechea, Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist at the World Bank, reiterated the need for a realistic strategy to develop the water and sanitation sector. "As it is now the sector lacks a clear priority and realistic strategic approach," he said. Mr Bengoechea urged stakeholders to increase education on sanitation. 22 March 10