A New Dawn: WASH Investment Summit and the 2nd Edition of the District Baobab WASH Awards
By: Maami Efua Mensah-Arthur
WASH Investment Summit
World Vision Ghana recently hosted a transformative 2-day event, the WASH Investment Plan Summit, alongside the 2nd Baobab District Awards for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). This summit was a concerted effort to turn investment plans into reality, ensuring that every community gains access to essential WASH services.
The Summit created a vibrant marketplace of ideas where Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) showcased their WASH Investment Plans (WIPs) and engaged directly with potential donors and partners. This was more than a showcase; it was a call to action to address the pressing challenges facing communities across Ghana.
The event began with an inspiring message from Harold Esseku, the esteemed Chairman of the World Bank in Ghana, emphasising collaboration and shared commitment. Representing the National Director of World Vision Ghana, Joshua Baidoo, Strategy Integrated Programmes Director, highlighted the collective spirit of the initiative and the urgent need for universal access to safe water and sanitation, a goal firmly rooted in the Sustainable Development Goals. Corporate partners, development organisations and stakeholders from across the country joined forces to pave the way for a better future for Ghana's water and sanitation sector.
MMDAs took turns presenting their WIPs, each detailing the unique challenges and innovative solutions they had developed. The event fostered connections that transcended individual interests, weaving a web of collaboration between government agencies, business leaders, NGOs and passionate advocates united by a common purpose.
District Baobab WASH Awards
The 2nd edition of the District Baobab WASH Awards celebrated the outstanding contributions of MMDAs and highlighted the critical role of effective WASH initiatives. The commitment of all 12 participating MMDAs was recognised, showcasing their collective efforts to improve WASH services and promote healthier communities.
The Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly has been awarded the top prize for its outstanding contribution to addressing water and sanitation challenges and promoting WASH initiatives in its community.
The prestigious awards ceremony, organised by World Vision Ghana in partnership with Global Communities under the USAID-funded Enhancing WASH Activity, celebrated the outstanding commitment of MMDAs in advancing WASH initiatives.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources. World Vision Ghana remains confident that with the commitment of the authorities and stakeholders, the future of WASH services in Ghana will be brighter, paving the way for healthier and more resilient communities.