The People’s National Convention(PNC) has expressed misgivings about the attitude of government to public concerns about the future of the water sector.

“we are particularly alarmed at the statement issued by the Ministry of Works and Housing, calling on Ghanaians to ignore Integrated Social Development (ISODEC) and the organisation’s view that privatisation of urban water supply is not in the interest of Ghanaians”, it stressed.

The position of the PNC was contained in a statement issued by the party in Accra and signed by its leader and presidential candidates in the 2000 general elections, Dr Edward Mahama, in respect of the ongoing public debate on reforms intended by government designed to inject more private capital into that sector.

“ Without prejudice to the merits of the arguments the PNC will like to state that at no time should a government representing all the people of Ghana, urge citizens to ignore the views of a section of the population unless these views have a criminal intent”

In the case of ISODEC, ordinary Ghanaians have benefited enormously from the social services they offer as an NGO., citizens of Ghana have looked to ISODEC, the TUC, Jubilee 2000 and other social policy advocates for alternative views on national issues,”it stressed.

“It was these organisations which alerted Ghanaians to the merits and demerits of HIPC; our government did not call for a debate then; we simply accepted what was prescribed. We are already living with the uncertainty of that decision,” the PNC observed.

The PNC observed that now that the government was on the verge of taking a major decision on the water sector which had serious implications for the lives of the people, it was only prudent that different views on the matter be heard.

“ Why should Ghanaians not hear all the views on the issue? If ISODEC had not raised a loud voice, would Ghanaians ever read a long version of the government’s plan in the major newspapers? It is an irony that while government is calling on Ghanaians to ignore ISODEC, government itself has not ignored ISODEC;they quickly reacted to ISODEC — such is the democratic debate we all cherish and must be encouraged,” it stressed.
The PNC pointed out that it was irrevocably committed to the protection of the right of freedom of speech and the right of the people to debate all sides of an argument or policy and also to be heard.

“ ISODEC is a credible organisation which undertakes research and presents issues in simple format for ordinary Ghanaians to examine and make their choices.” We were surprised that the government would use state resources to silence a non-governmental organisation by calling on citizens to ignore its views which are the views of a large section of the population”, the PNC said.

“Our government should promote democracy which is about fredoom of speech, availability of alternative views and choices for people to participate in decision-making and governance,” it stressed.

.....TUC Opposes Plans

The Trades Union Congress (TUC)has joined in the condemnation of government’s plan to lease the Ghana Water Company to some multinational firms. The TUC says the venture will only give the opportunity to some profit-seeking foreign firms to make money at the expense of the impoverished Ghanaian.

Government says the ten-year lease, known as the private-public-participation in urban water supply (PSP), aims at pumping more financial and technological capital into the GWCL, while seeking to promote an interchange of expertise, management and an improved work culture. However, the Secretary General of the TUC, Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, told a press conference in today that the arrangement will increase the cost of water.

According to him instead of the proposed arrangement, there is the need to develop and restructure the production and provision of water. He said instead of leasing a public asset like the Ghana water company, the water sector should be opened up to private companies who wish to make new investments in it.

Mr Adu Amankwah noted that one of the biggest problems confronting the water sector is the poor layout of Ghanaian cities. He was of the opinion that the provision of water can be enhanced with an improved city planning.