WASH News West Africa
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
Ghana: Response to Accra’s looming water crisis could decide next president
03 Apr 08
ACCRA, 27 March 2008 (IRIN) - General elections in Ghana will not be held until December but with the rapid collapse of the water system in the capital Accra and an estimated 84,000 Ghanaians dying each year from diseases related to poor water quality, observers say water has already become the central election issue.“All the [...]
Ghana: UNICEF and EU Team Assesses Water and Sanitation Approach to Guinea Worm Eradication in the North
20 Mar 08
The Head of the European Union Delegation in Ghana Mr. Filiberto Sebregondi and UNICEF Ghana Country Representative, Dr Yasmin Ali Hsque, have paid a two-day visit to the Northern region to assess the oncoming collaborative efforts to improve availability of safe water and sanitation facilities, and the eradication of Guinea Worm.During the visit they [...]
Nigeria: Water Board to Provide Pre-Paid Meter
20 Mar 08
In its determination to boost the revenue generation drive of its organisation this fiscal year, the Federal Capital Territory water board, has declared that it has concluded arrangements to fix pre-paid metres for all its customers.Acting director of the board, Engr. Jibril Ibrahim, reiterated the importance of revenue generation to the board, warning that any [...]
Ghana: France funds Peri-Urban, Rural and Small Towns Water and Sanitation Project
20 Mar 08
Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Mr Benoît Lebeurre, Resident Manager of the Agence Française de Développement have signed three agreements for a cumulative amount of 38.6 million euros.The first agreement is a soft loan of 17 million euros and the second agreement is a grant of 1.6 million euros provided [...]
Ghana: The Water Crisis
20 Mar 08
The Acqua Vitens Rand Ltd, managers of the Ghana Water Company (GWC) has been in the news recently, as a result of the acute water shortage that has hit the Accra and Tema metropolis. The public is already calling on the government to abrogate the management contract it has with the Dutch company, but the [...]
Nigeria: FG Backs Construction of 1m Latrines
20 Mar 08
The Federal Government has expressed willingness to support the construction of one million latrines throughout the country.In his welcome address at the celebration of the 2008 World Water Day, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Sayyadi Abba Ruma, said the ministry will collaborate with other relevant agencies in the sanitation sub-sector to attain [...]
Sierra Leone: UK helps turn on the taps for clean water
05 Mar 08
DFID, 23 February 2008The UK has launched a £32 million, five-year water, sanitation and hygiene education programme in Sierra Leone. The programme, which is run in conjunction with UNICEF and the Sierra Leone Government, will provide an additional 1.5 million people with safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene education and will help [...]
COTE D’IVOIRE: Protests and mounting anger over lack of water in Abidjan
03 Mar 08
ABIDJAN, 28 February 2008 (IRIN) - A third of Abidjan’s inhabitants have had no drinking water for over a month and many have taken to the streets to vent their anger.“Each time we launch an appeal to the authorities for help there is no action,” local resident Georgette Akissi 38, who has been on the [...]
Nigeria - Washing hands reduces infectious diseases
03 Mar 08
HAVE YOU WASHED YOUR hands?” the headmaster of a primary school in a village in northern Nigeria asked 160 children standing in line one morning before starting class.“Yes master!” answered the youthful, enthusiastic crowd.his daily ritual has become a game, said Sani Marafa, the headmaster at the school in Lokoto, a community of some 50 [...]
West Africa: Region Ranks Lowest On Sanitation
03 Mar 08
West Africa is the worst sub-region in the world in terms of access to sanitation services, according to UNICEF Nigeria.Mohammed El-Fatiih Yousif, the Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene section, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Durban, South Africa.He said:” Only about 36 per cent of the people [...]
