Ghana: 2012 Water Forum Put Off

The Ghana Water Forum (GWF), which has been a major Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector event over the past three years, cannot be held this year.

Harold Clottey, planning committee Chair for the GWF, has announced in a statement that the 2012 edition of the forum has been postponed to 2013 due to recent national developments.

The announcement was made on behalf of the Water Directorate of the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing (WD-MWRWH). Meanwhile, the planning committee will be reflecting on past events, reviewing and following up on past communiqu’s (decision points), and to report on progress at the forthcoming forum,the statement assured.

The committee, therefore, welcomes inputs (suggestions, comments, etc.) from various stakeholders to ensure an improvement over the previous water forums.

The GWF series was established in 2009 out of the then Ghana Government/Development Partners Annual Review Conference. Objectives for the series included: To create a platform for Ghana’s political leadership, water sector professionals, stakeholders and partners to discuss opportunities and challenges of achieving water security for Ghana’s socio-economic development.

It was also to take stock of the status of progress towards the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Ghana, review key achievements and challenges and propose strategies and actions for accelerating the achievement of the water and sanitation targets.

Additionally, it was to build consensus on water security and provide recommendations for consideration at the highest political level. Another objective was to formulate concrete policies, strategies and actions to accelerate water resources development and the provision of services, as well as provide a platform for exchange of water and sanitation sector knowledge and information.

Also, the forum serves as a forerunner to the Africa Water Week where proceedings from the GWF were to be presented. Meanwhile, the committee has indicated it would finalise and communicate the new date and other details once they were confirmed.