MEDIA ASK TO FOCUS ON GALAMSEY HEALTH RELATED ISSUES

 

            George Yorke

The Head of Policy at Water Aid Ghana, George Yorke says it time for the country to prioritize Water in the Climate Change adaptation and National Determine Contribution, NDC Plan policies. According to him, these policies are comprehensive and it will serve as an entry point for water and sanitation. Mr. Yorke said this at a day workshop for stakeholders in the environment sector. The workshop was under the theme: Climate Change and water.  The workshop attracted stakeholders in the environmental sector and the media to deliberate on how best the media and CSOs can collaborate to fight against galamsey and possible solutions to address climate issues. Mr. Yorke noted that climate change awareness at the community level is very low; adding that a survey by Water Aid Ghana at the Upper East Region shows that only 63 percent of the populations have some form of knowledge about climate issues. He said the survey also indicated that 53 percent of the populations have access to sufficient and quality water from boreholes. According to the Sustainable Development Goal 13, climate change should be treated as an urgent issues by Heads of State. Mr. Yorke noted that the space at which government and other civil society organizations are tackling climate change issues will not help the Country to achieve it SDGs target by 2030. He said Ghana is good in developing policies on climate change adaptation but funding has become a major problem for the implementation of all these policies.  A Researcher at the University of Legon Dr. Bob Manteaw noted that the activities of galamsey is not only affecting the water bodies but also the health of the people especially women. He said the health consequences of galamsey is not getting the needed attention in the media as women are the most vulnerable to these tropical diseases. Dr. Manteaw stated that issues of mining and climate change should be given the maximum attention. He said activities of galamsey are gradually destroying the water bodies and Ghana can no longer boast of River Pra, River Densu and River Ankobra among others.

                                  

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VOLTA LAKE QUALITY THREATEN BY AKATENG COMMUNITY

 

STORY BY HAGAR SEY

 

 

volta lake

 Access to clean water and basic sanitation is important to human dignity. Lack of these social amenities can have serious implications on the individual as well as the community at large. At Akateng in the Upper Manya Krobo district, lack of toilet facilities in individual homes has compelled residents to engage in open defecation along the Volta Lake.  the residents explained that the community was initially using a dilapidated school toilet at the Akateng primary school but the facility has since been pulled down. According to them, this situation is what has compelled them to engage in the act. Akateng is a fishing community with a population of over one thousand. For many years, the fast growing community has been deprived of access to potable water and communal toilet facilities. Lack of toilet facilities in individual homes and in the community has compelled residents to practice open defecation along the Volta Lake, which severs as the major source of water for residents. Activities by the community are gradually polluting the Lake. Teachers and pupils alike also engage in open defecation during class’s hours. In an interview with the Head Teacher of the Akateng Junior High School, David Ohenepane Narh said the lack of water as well as toilet facilities at the school is affecting teaching and learning. He explained that both teachers and pupils have to skip classes and walk for about two kilometers to defecate and even wash their hands in the lake. He added that sometime the pupils do not return back to class. The District Chief Executive, Joe Sam said efforts are being made by the Assembly to partner with Non-Governmental Organizations and Philanthropists to construction toilet facilities for the community as well as build a water reservoir that will get its water source from the lake. 

SAKUMONO RAMSAR SITE TURN DUMPING SITE

STORY BY HAGAR SEY

The Sakumɔ Ramsar Site is gradually losing its significance as some residents in the area have turned a portion of the lagoon into a dumping site. They claim that dumping refuse at the Ramsar Site was the only solution to stop the Sakumono Village from flooding anytime it rains. In an interview with GBC-Obonu News, a Community Leader of the Sakumɔnɔ Village, Joseph Teyetsu, said the area needs to be filled with sea sand to protect the Community from flooding but lack of financial support to undertake this project has compelled them to dump their refuse at the Ramsar Site. The Sakumɔ Ramsar Site which covers about one thousand four hundred hectares is situated along the Accra-Tema coastal road. It serves as a natural solution to the recent climate emergency, as it contains mangroves sequestering more than 60 percent of carbon emissions from the atmosphere. The beautiful natural reserve is however gradually losing its beauty and is becoming a dumping site for the Sakumɔnɔ Community and an open defecation arena for some residents. 

The Community started dumping at the site in 2005, but into a waste management agency’s container, however with time, both members of the Community and door-to-door refuse collectors turned the Lagoon and Ramsar Site into a permanent dumping site, in addition to the two waste collection containers available that are overflowing with garbage. A Manager at the dumping site, Ekow Agyiri, who spoke to GBC-Obonu News, said although the Community intends to reclaim the dumping site, the cost involved is hampering their efforts. According to him, the door-to-door refuse collectors have been asked to stop dumping at the place but they are adamant. A Fisherman, Abraham Ayornu, who is also a resident in the Community said the dumping of refuse at the Ramsar Site is affecting fishing activities. He explained that most of the time, their motors get stuck with rubbish at sea; making it difficult for them to sail.

                                    

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WAR VICTIMS TURN BEGGERS IN SIERRA LEONE OVER FAILED TRC IMPLEMENTATION

 STORY BY HAGAR SEY

image by google 

Even though it’s been ten years since Sierra Leone came out of a devastating civil war, the effects can still be felt as if it was just yesterday. The negative leftovers continue to heavily have a toll on them, especially for people within communities and regions where the unfortunate incident began. Most of the issues namely corruption, nepotism, abuse of power and neglect of minors among vices that led to the civil war in the West African country in 1991 still persists and is retarding development. The Government’s failure to implement article 28 of the Total Reconciliation Committee, TRC, recommendations agreed by the Rebel Union Front and the then United Nations Mission in Kumrabia Ferry, where the Country finally birthed peace has marginalized victims of the war in society. Since the TRC’s recommendations have not been implemented, most of the war victims especially those who suffered amputations have resorted to begging to survive. Meeting parental responsibilities have become a huge challenge for the amputee since they are unable to cater for their children; resulting in teenage pregnancy, a common phenomenon in these marginalized communities.

image by google

Sierra Leone Civil War begun in 1991 and lasted for 10years. Like many war ravaged African countries the influencing factors pointed at citizen’s unhappiness with the then government in power, for either suspected or confirmed issues of corruption, nepotism and unequal redistribution of the Country’s resources. The citizen’s quest to overthrow the then government led to the loss of over 70 thousand lives with some two-point-6 million people being displaced, many of whom sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Those who were not able to flee the affected regions suffered a lot of brutalities especially women and children. Women and beautiful young girls were at the mercy of rebels, who did not hesitate to rape them for pleasure, children had their limbs amputated and bomb attacks on school children were rife. The Kenema Township bore the brunt of these brutalities most and these victims

SEIB ATU - KALLON ) WAR VICTIM

'shared her experience in the war and her current situation after the war. (I  was 13 years when the war begun. on that faithful day the rebels were burning many houses in the village.  three rebels entered our pavilion where i was hiding when  came back from the market. They took me outside. There was an old man who was invisible at that time, so the rebels could s not see him. The rebels took me along and one of them said I will be his wife. The old man killed the rebel who was holding me in captive. The other two rebels said they have  to kill me. I pleaded with them but one of the rebels used machete he was holding to hit my head, back, arm and forehead and I became unconscious.

stepped on my stomach. I was bleeding all over. When I was lying there I saw my mother’s ghost. My mother’s ghost led me to a safer place. The ghost took me to the place I was initially hiding and she left me there. I was bleeding all over my body. The next morning the United Nations mission aids saw me and took me to Kenema. The mission aids said I will die if they take me to Kenema. They put me on a local use of transport and they took me to hospital. My arm was almost cut off by the rebels so when we got to the hospital the cut off the arm. When the doctors were stitching the wounds they were finding it difficulties. I was in the hospital for nine month. I thank God the war has ended. 

We agree there should be peace. In 2002-03, they said they will do something for those who suffer from the war but up till date we have not seen any support. I have four children now and a widow. I have to go to Kenema to beg before I can feed my children. We are suffering. Some of the amputees have die because of the level of suffering. The children they left behind are also suffering. What the children will eat at school is a problem. Now most of our children have drop out of school and have become street children. From the abuse and brutality  I went through during the war am now partially blind. One of my children leads me town in Kenema to beg, even what to eat we cannot afford. The government needs to implement the recommendations of the Total Reconciliation Committee. Education of our children is a major problem. Amputees are suffering and their children are also suffering.

 The amputations and series of rape were not limited to Kenema alone, but also Grafton in the Western Rural District also suffered the same fate. The rebels cut off the legs and arms of some young vibrant men. Theses victims, even though they feel marginalized in society, do not wish to retaliate. While most persons whose limbs were amputated have died out of depression, others have resorted to begging on the street to fend for their families'.

Rubis village in Komrabai Ferry of the Tonkolili District was the starting point for the rebels initiated peace journey, which the government together with the United Nations Mission of the day joined in. Although the Rubis village made history with her immense contribution towards ending the war in Sierra Leone, the same cannot be said of her current situation as she has been deprived of socio-economic development a decade after the war. 

The Village remains marginalized in terms of infrastructure; children walk for more than five-kilometres to access a dilapidated building called classroom while women and children also walk more than one-point-five kilometres to access a contaminated stream. The historical village that gave birth to peace is unfortunately yet to recover from ravages of the war.

 

Minorities to suffer in the next world war on water

By Hagar Sey

The Co-Executive Director at Minority Rights Group, Claire Thomas said  the solution to the water crisis is to listen to the minorities voices and learn from them how to live with the environment in harmony. According to her, water crisis is not just about climate change, but rather authorities  making short term and self-interested decisions, often choosing profit over equity , inclusion or sustainability. Madam Claire Thomas said this at an online lunch of a report by the Minority Rights Group (MRG) .  The report titled: Minority and Indigenous Trends Report 2023: People – Process – Planet,’. The report reveals human activities that have led to disruptions in the global water cycle, leading to enormous consequences to millions of people. The 

280 -page  report highlight on the effect of water on minority communities, which it shows bear the brunt of the fallout. It also takes an indebt look at the linkage of the situation to colonialism, which led to the global commercialization and predation of water and exposes how it’s used as a weapon for the marginalization of minority groups. The 280-page report looks at a range of topics affecting minorities globally. It also focuses on the ongoing global water crisis which had become  critical challenges that is  facing humanity, like climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity.

The report again explores human rights implications of collapsing water systems. The report contain  three in-depth chapters, 35 case studies detailing the 10 most pressing intersectional aspects of the global water crisis, like access, sanitation, pollution, floods, drought, infrastructure, conflict, usage, governance and culture.

The report again  highlights how systemic discrimination has left many minority and indigenous communities with precarious access to safe drinking water as governments and private water companies fail to invest enough resources in the areas where they live, even when they often face displacement by these water infrastructure projects that do not benefit them. It further highlights that many minority and indigenous populations bear the brunt of water-related disasters, such as floods and drought, while facing exclusion in the emergency relief efforts that follow.

The also touched on the indigenous peoples’ deep spiritual connections to the waters on their traditional lands and their centuries’ long experience of managing water sources render them especially vulnerable when these interlinkages are disrupted. 

The report brings together voices and knowledge systems of over 35 indigenous and minority wisdom keepers at planetary level, for real and effective action against the water crisis. It entails a ‘Pledge’ written by Rajendra Singh, known as the waterman of India, who restored the climate of Rajasthan using the traditional system of jodahs, as well as a piece by world renowned water activist Vandana Shiva. The foreword is written by UN Special rapporteur on Water, Pedro Arrojo-Agudo.

Madam Claire Thomas said the write-ups offer several recommendations for governments, corporations and international organisations such as UN agencies to consider as a matter of urgency to address this issues.

She said noted that the collapse of the hydrological system is imminent unless the world listens to minority and indigenous people as part of efforts to redress the ongoing global water crisis

communities within Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo municipality relief of water challenges

 Story by Hagar Sey

Water they say is life, but lack of potable water has serious health implications on a nation as well as the individual. According to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals 6, the country is expected to achieve universal goal, equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030. The Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), which is in charge of the provision of water and sanitation services in rural areas puts access to water at 63 percent. This indicate that majority of people leaving in the rural area have access to improve source of drinking water. The situation is different in some communities in the middle belt area in the Eastern region. Access to save drinking water, sustainability, and equity has become a major challenge in Moano, Obonkorkor, Nsutapon Sukwanya, Dawa Kpesisi, Akohia, Obawale, Abretima, Akusu, Trawa, Abotia, Brepaw Kpeti, Krobo girls SHS, Asesewa SHS, and Asesewa government hospital. An opinion leader of Akusu Saisi community, joseph Ogbordjor, said residents have to walk for half a kilometer to access the Volta Lake as their source of drinking water. He said because the water is not a treated water, they sometime see worms in the water. A situation according Mr. Ogbordjor they have no option but use it for drinking and their domestic chores. He said disease like river blindness and bilharzia was very common in the community. He said the SWASH 3 Project has brought a lot of benefit to the community. Another residents at Akusu Saisi, Vida Teitey said even though they know the lake is contaminated the community members do not have any choice since it the any source of water. She said sickness like river blindness, bilharzia are common disease in the community. The situation was affecting the children’s academic performs in class. They sometime loose interest in coming to school after going to the lake side. Madam Vida said since the bore hole was constructed do not walk far to access water. Even though, there is a water supply from Community Water and Sanitation Agency, it is not enough to meet the demands of the residents and institutions for a day.  Institutions like Krobo girls SHS, Asesewa SHS, and Asesewa government hospital have to rely on tankers and Sacket water when the CWSA fail to supply them water for a longer period.

Byte(headmistress krobo girls)Betty Aduhene Chinbuah said the school rely on a buy water from the Ghana water company limited for supply. She said any time the GWCL supply takes long the school has to reply on sachet water to meet the water demands.  She said the old students bought polo tanks for the school for storage but there is no frequent supply of water.

Through the Water Sanitation and Hygiene project (SWASH 3) executed by Growth Aid with support from Later Days Saint Charities, Moano, Obonkorkor, Nsutapon Sukwanya, Dawa Kpesisi, Akohia, Obawale, Abretima, Akusu, Trawa, Abotia, Brepaw Kpeti, Krobo girls SHS, Asesewa SHS, and Asesewa government hospital, have been relief from the stress of walking for hours to access water.

The Swash project does not only provide water facilities to institutions and communities but also does monitoring and water quality test with the respective assemblies for a period of three years. Some of the students and residents who benefited from the SWASH 3 said they have to walk for more than two hours to search for water but SWASH 3 project has brought the water to their door steps.

The school prefect of Asesewa SHS , Jessica Akuffo a form three student, said the students walk for many hours in search of water from the neighboring town. She said sometimes they come to campus without water or half a bucket. she said most of the have gotten pregnant because of water. She said the support from growth aid and later days saint charities will help address some of these challenges confronting the school.

Sustainable Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (SWAH 3) Project is a sustainable wash project executed by Growth Aid with support by the Later Days Saint Charities. The projected is expected to improved and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene serves for more that eighteen thousand people living in the rural and deprived communities. The program is to help prevent and manage water related diseases that can easily be prevented in the communities and institutions.  The project is been implemented in 15 communities within the Lower Manya and Yilo Krobo Municipal Assemblies.

Issues of water and sanitation is a shared responsibility we all have a role to play to help the country achieve it SDG 6 target by 2030.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GWCL TO EXTEND WATER SUPPLY TO FRAFRAHA NSUO -ANO COMMUNITY

                story by: Hagar Sey              

Residents of the Frafraha Nsuo Ano Community in the La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality, have commended the Ghana Water Company, GWCL, for their efforts in connecting the Community into the main water system. According to them, for so many years the Community has not had access to potable water. Residents therefore have had to rely on a water tank, borehole and sachet water. The residents made the commendation when the Ghana Wash Journalists Network, GWJN, followed up on the Community after a documentary was made on their water situation last year.  Frafraha Nsuo Ano is a fishing community with a population of over five thousand. For so many years, the community has not had access to potable water. Residents have to walk for about ten to fifteen minutes to access a borehole in the community. The residents complained the water tanker is expensive. A situation which according to them, has compelled them to resort to using untreated water from a borehole for domestic use. According to the Sustainable Development Goal Six target for 2030, water should be accessible, safe and affordable for all. This indicator requires that the Country invests in adequate infrastructure; it is for this reason that the government made a huge investment to expand the Kpong Water Treatment Plant to enable it to supply an additional 40 million gallons per day to seven-hundred-thousand inhabitants in communities including Adentan, Madina, Kwabenya and Ashongman. A follow up visit to the community after the documentary by the GWJN shows that the GWCL has shown some commitment in extending water supply to the community. The GWCL has already laid pipe lines in certain parts of the community. In an interview with a resident, Ibrahim Satrana, he said there has been a consultation between the community and the Ghana Water Company on how to extend potable water to them. He said the community has been tasked to pay a minimal amount of money so that they can be connected to the main system. The residents appealed to the GWCL to speed up work.