The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ghana, has organized a two day training for selected media practitioners in Tamale on water security reporting.
The White Volta which is the main source of water supply to tamale, is currently experiencing high level situation, mainly due to sand mining activities in and along the river banks.
In his submission the senior Project Officer at CRS, Mr. Richard Ntibrey noted that increased anthropogenic activities including farming activities and sand mining upstream of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) Intake Point, is threatening the river’s future capacity to supply the required volume of water to the metropolis and its environs.
To address this menace, CRS together with its stakeholders; Ghana Water Company Limited, Water Resources Commission, Northern Regional Coordinating Council, CONIWAS, Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Urban WASH and Resilience Project are working to setup a Tamale Water Fund (TWF), to help salvage the situation.
The water fund will create and enhance government mechanisms which will unite stakeholders around a common goal to contribute to water security through a nature-based solution and sustainable watershed management systems.
The TWF is envisioned to ensure water security in Tamale and its environs through a strategic partnership and to as well utilize nature based solutions to improve water quality and quantity, as well as create a healthy environment to protect and enhance biodiversity within the White Volta Basin.
On his part, Mr. Franklin Asare-Donkor, the Organizing secretary of the Ghana WASH Journalist Network (GWJN) underscored the need to constantly remind Ghanaians of the actions that affect WASH, noting that it is very prudent in the fight against water security.
He further called on media practitioners to prioritize WASH related issues to help win the fight for generations yet unborn.
Jemilatu Mashood, Sector Influence Manager CRS Ghana, also expressed confidence in the media practitioners in the fight against water security issues in the region.
She is hopeful media persons will develop interest regarding water security, which according to her will go a long way in making the water fund achieve its goal of finding lasting solutions to Tamale’s Water Security Challenge.
Source:Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif
