GHANA to benefit from Netherlands Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project.

By: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Amsterdam  

The Government of Ghana and Netherlands Embassy have embarked on a multi-annual programme in Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH). The Ghana-Netherlands WASH Programme (GNWP) focuses on integrated urban water and sanitation in selected municipalities.

The total budget of the programme is €180 million up to  the year 2020.

Objective

The GNWP aims at improving and increasing access to drinking water and sanitation services in urban areas of Ghana including schools.

In a brief interview with Daily Graphic at the Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Julius Debrah said the GNWP is focusing on providing sustainable and innovative solutions to the challenging water and sanitation problems in Ghana.

Mr Debrah, who was leading a trade mission to the Netherlands made up up public and private private sector companies and organizations from Ghana to facilitate partnerships and strengthen business relations said trade mission was in the Netherlands for match making and and meet with potential private sector firms and NGOs in the Netherlands.

He explained that in motivating and leveraging private sector involvement and inclusion an amount of €30 million has been allocated for a Public Private Partnership facility called the Ghana WASH Window (GWW).

"The GWW serves as a catalyst for private sector/non-Governmental organizations in Ghana to forge partnerships with the private sector in the Netherlands through making making to come up with innovative and sustainable proposals to be considered for funding." He said 

He indicated that the delegation while in the Netherlands will meet with potential private sector firms and NGOs in the Netherlands and also explore other business opportunities with the private sector.

Delegation 

Members of the Ghana delegation were  Ag. Director, Environmental Health and Sanitation Directorate of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Municipal Chief Executives  of the  Ga West Municipal Assembly, Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, Tema Metropolitan Assembly, Kpando Municipal Assembly, and the  Ashaiman Municipal Assembly

He said the private sector was represented by Waste Landfills Company, Youth and Social Enterprise Fund (Y-SEF) & GWF, Plastic Waste Collectors Association of Ghana, Multi Hydro Technology Company Limited, Environmental Services Providers Association, Jospong Group of companies led by its Chairman, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong,  Rockshell Engineering Limited J. Stanley-Owusu &Company Ltd, Del Ronna Co,  ECMP Gh. Limited, Dynamite Communications Limited, Safe Water Network, Dutch Water Partners,  Opportunities Industrialization Centers Int (OICI), Dominion Waste, Unik Restroom. With the team is Ms Elsie Appau , Policy Advisor with the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana.

End 

Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh