Triple-S works to forge a closer working relationship between Ghana's business community and other water sector stakeholders.
Published on: 28/10/2011
This was done at a Business Roundtable organised as part of the third Ghana Water Forum which took place during September 5-8, 2011. The private sector in the water industry established a strategic water partnership initiative to improve the working relationship between various stakeholders to allow for the building of synergies among the partners.
The Business Forum was a side event organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing.
The membership of the initiative include: the Coca Cola Company Limited, National Insurance Commission, Private Utility Service Providers Association (PRUSPA) , companies with specific interest in water; as well as sector agencies - Ghana Water Company Limited, Water Resources Commission, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission and Triple-S Ghana.
The Initiative will be coordinated by the AGI and will meet quarterly on key water sector issues.
To emphasise the role of the private sectors in rural water services, Triple-S Ghana and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) have engaged with members of the business community .
Triple-S made a joint presentation with CWSA on the theme: “Towards Sustainable Water Services in Ghana: the Role of the Private Sector” during the Business Roundtable.
The Country Team Leader of Triple-S Ghana, Mrs. Vida Duti observed that even though the government has an unavoidable role to lead the sector in the provision of sustainable water services, it requires the active support of all stakeholders.
She gave an overview of the rural water sector in Ghana and stated that post construction issues is a contributing factor in the sustainability of water facilities.
She said: “for Ghana to provide sustainable water service, we need to pay attention to post construction issues including life-cycle cost components”.
She therefore advocated for the need to have clarity on the financial policy for post construction support in Ghana.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Gaze, Director of Technical services of CWSA, the business sector has a critical role to play in addressing the challenges facing the sustainability of water services in rural communities.
He explained CWSA has been exploring various opportunities of working with the private sector including looking into the possibility of developing an insurance policy for post-construction support.
Mr. Gaze announced CWSA is focused on increasing access to spare parts for communities across the country (through technology) to facilitate the speedy repairs of breakdowns. This, he said, is a clear opportunity for the private sector to partner with the agency in finding the appropriate technology for the role.
Mr. Gaze also indicated the agency is working on identifying innovative options for post-construction financing.
