CWSA introduces Smarter-WASH to monitor functionality of systems

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) has piloted a cutting edge technology that will enable it get real time data on which of its pumps, mechanised boreholes or water systems is providing the desired services to the people of Ghana.

Known as the Smarter-WASH project, the technology will involve the use of text messaging (SMS) by means of mobile telephones to report on the state of water facilities.

Commenting on the importance of the new technology, Benedict Kubabom, the Director for Planning and Investment at CWSA said it is no longer useful to count pipes and pumps to determine whether people have access to water or not.

Dealing with corruption in the water and sanitation sector – WIN leads the charge

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE, BACK FROM THE NETHERLANDS

H. E. Betty Bigombe, Teun Bastemeijer and Ulysses Ocran Hammond

Though corruption and the issue of integrity in institutions and among individuals have existed over the years, they have often been spoken of with muffled voices.

While people are quick to admit in private that corruption pervades the air, those same people are unwilling to publicly admit that it is an issue that seriously hampers the delivery of services and when in public speak about it with a hush.

The reason is that many see it as a very sensitive and delicate issue to be spoken of in public, lest one loses favour with the powers that be or is blacklisted in the award of contracts or be branded as cowards, not being smart, anti-social and ‘enemies of progress’.

World Bank approves US$155 million for Water and Sanitation in Ghana

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

An improved sanitation facility (WC) - a must for all

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$155 million International Development Association (IDA) grant to support the Government of Ghana’s efforts to increase access to sanitation and water supply services.

It is also intended for the improvement of the capacity of government agencies to plan and manage natural resources more sustainably. 

According to a statement from the World Bank, the funds will support two of the Government of Ghana’s priorities: manage natural resources in a sustainable manner and bring improved sanitation and water supply to over 3.6 million people living in and around the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA).

Water shortages due to governance failures – Integrity Forum

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE, BACK FROM THE NETHERLANDS

The first ever forum on integrity in the water sector jointly organised by the Water Integrity Network (WIN), UNESCO – IHE Institute for Water Education and the Water Governance Centre (WGC), has found that water shortages in most countries are not due to resource scarcity but due to governance failures.

In a statement issued after a three-day forum on water integrity in Delft, The Netherlands from June 5, 2013 to June 7, 2013, the over 100 participants from 60 organisations cutting across all continents, agreed “Fragmented institutions obstruct accountability in a sector with high investment and aid flows, making it particularly vulnerable to corruption.”

Forum asks governments, others to promote water integrity

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE, BACK FROM THE NETHERLANDS

A cross section of participants at the forum

Participants at the just ended Water Integrity Forum (WIF) held in Delft, The Netherlands, together with partners of the forum, have called on governments, the United Nations (UN) and international organisations, the corporate sector and civil society to promote water integrity in their operations.  

Maintaining that the costs of inaction are just too high to remain passive, the three-day forum which ended June 7, 2013 stated that although fighting corruption is an essential first step, it is not sufficient to deal with the issues of integrity.