Madam Cecilia Dapaah (second from right) interacting with Dr Yero H.J.Baldeh (left).With them include Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah (right).Photo.Ebo Gorman
A project aimed at increasing access to hygienic and sustainable sanitation for residents of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) has been launched in Accra.
Dubbed, Greater Accra Sustainable and Livelihoods Improvement Project (GASSLIP), the cost of the project is US$53.86 million, with the African Development Bank (AfDB) providing US$48.85 million whilst the government and beneficiary communities contribute the remaining US$5.01 million.
It would be completed within a four and half year period and about 1.9 million residents within the project catchment area are expected to benefit.
Launching it yesterday, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, said the project was one of the interventions being adopted by government to address sanitation challenges in the country’s urban areas.
In this regard, the project, she said, would provide domestic and municipal level sanitation infrastructure, support skills development and livelihood improvements as well as enhance the capacity of sanitation service providers and the participating Assemblies to effectively deliver and manage sanitation services within GAMA.
Additionally, it would also impact positively in health and human productivity, thereby contributing to the socio-economic well-being of the residents and support efforts toward the achievement of access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030, as stated in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2, the Minister explained.
She said the ministry would effectively coordinate, supervise, and monitor the implementation of the project to ensure judicious use of the allocated funds for a successful completion.
Apart from the 11 Municipal Assemblies within the GAMA that would benefit from the project, Madam Dapaah requested that it be extended to cover the nine assemblies created after the project appraisal stage.
She further urged for a replication of GASSLIP in the country’s major cities including Kumasi, Tamale, Sekondi-Takoradi, and other regional capitals to accelerate the process of improving sanitation in the country and called on the AfDB to continue to assist government in undertaking projects to mitigate problems that adversely affects development.
The Project Coordinator, Stephen Ackon, stated that the project would provide about 7,000 household with toilet facilities, make available dustbins in the city, ensure well coordinated transport of solid waste from communities and increase connections to sewer lines.
The livelihoods aspect of the project, he said, would involve the engagement of people to keep communities and areas clean and ensure that best sanitation practices were undertaken at the various areas.
He stated that the project would be strictly implemented on laid down regulations to ensure value for money and support the main agenda of ensuring safe and sustainable environment.
Dr Yero Baldeh, Country Manager, AfDB, said the project complements the Bank’s recent support in urban sanitation under the Accra Sewerage Improvement Project, which was completed in 2016.
He urged the project implementors to conform to the Bank’s Code of Ethics and comply with financial management, audit and reporting obligations.
To ensure continuous support from the Bank for a successful completion, he asked the implementors to establish an effective and robust monitoring and evaluation framework which was critical for driving results.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
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