The Eastern Regional Office of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) celebrated its 25th anniversary with various stakeholders, including customers and students, in Asiakwa, Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region. The anniversary was themed “25 years of sustaining WASH service: Transforming rural and small towns water services delivery towards national development”.
Mr Sampson Atakora, the Eastern Regional Director of CWSA, highlighted the agency’s establishment by an Act of Parliament in December 1998, with a mission to ensure the provision of safe water and sanitation services to rural communities and small towns, as well as promote water-related sanitation and hygiene practices in Ghana.
Acknowledging the significant contributions of external partners such as UNDP, UNICEF, JICA, and Plan International Ghana, Mr Atakora emphasized the agency’s role in managing 20 water systems out of the 31 constructed with public funds in the Eastern Region. Notable among these systems are Akwadum, Nankese, Asiakwa, Asuokaw, Donkorkrom, Akroso, Akim Wenchi, and Maame Krobo.
He further outlined CWSA’s investment of 196 million Ghana cedis from 2017 to 2023 in reconstructing, rehabilitating, and expanding water supply assets, as well as in establishing offices for newly employed Water Systems Management Staff.
Mr Atakora also highlighted initiatives under the Technology and Innovation Learning Platform, including the development of a water quality map, electronic mapping of water infrastructure assets, water pollution risk assessment, and software applications to simplify operations.
Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, emphasized the government’s commitment, along with development partners, to providing potable water supply systems and sanitation facilities to promote sustainable development. He urged Municipal and District Assemblies and stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring sustainable management of water installations at the community level and to provide accurate data to CWSA to streamline efforts in the WASH sector.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Veronica buckets, gallons of liquid soap, towel papers, and dustbins were distributed to Methodist, Salvation Army, and Roman Catholic schools, reflecting the agency’s commitment to promoting hygiene and sanitation in schools.
