Kumasi, June 30, GNA - A day's consultative workshop to solicit stakeholder input for fine-tuning the national strategic water sector development plan had been held in Kumasi.

The goal is to help increase water coverage from the present 58.98 per cent to 100 per cent by the year, 2025, and that of sanitation coverage to 54 per cent from 12.4 per cent within the same period.

The plan, designed by the Water Resources, Works and Housing Ministry, is meant to sustain, harness and effectively manage the country's water resources.

Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, described the workshop as timely, since it would provide stakeholders the opportunity to critically and meticulously scrutinize various papers and policy documents relating to the plan.

Water, he said, was so critical that, its absence could spell doom for any community.

It was for this reason that the government and all should be concerned, not only about its availability for the improved health of the people, but also how to use it in a more sustainable manner.

The Regional Minister said he was confident that the plan would significantly help to increase access to potable water, improved sanitation and sustainable management of water resources, as a means to better the lives of the people.

Mr Attah Arhin, Project Manager for the Improvement of Water Sector Performance Management, of the Ministry, said issues discussed at the workshop would go a long way to guide the sector in the planning, development and management of the nation's water resources and efficiency in the delivery of water supply services.

The Ministry, he said, was doing all that it could to meet the water accessibility targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and would continually engage stakeholders in various programmes to achieve this objective.

Mr Arhin said the strategic plan would serve as a single point of reference for all other sector programmes and projects.

It would, additionally, articulate the priorities assigned by government in the implementation of the national water policy in the medium to long-term.