Accra: ActionAid Ghana (AAG), a civil society organization, has urged the government to allocate 20 per cent of Ghana's national budget to education, with a portion specifically dedicated to infrastructure and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in basic schools.
According to Ghana News Agency, this call comes after a survey conducted by AAG in 14 schools across Ga South and West, which revealed that 62 per cent of these schools lack access to improved water sources such as pipe water, protected wells, boreholes, and rainwater catchment systems.
The survey highlighted issues including broken pipes, nonfunctional boreholes, and inadequate water catchment systems. Many boreholes, relied upon by schools, are located some distance away in the community and are shared with community members. Madam She-Vera Anzagira, the Regional Programme Manager for Greater Accra, Volta, and Oti, made this appeal during an accountability forum on WASH and education infrastructure in Accra, following the presentation of the survey findings.
Madam Anzagira emphasized the need for 20 per cent of Ghana's national budget to be dedicated to education, with a safeguarded portion for infrastructure and WASH in basic schools. She called for the timely and transparent disbursement of these funds and advocated for an increase in the number of schools with access to pipe water, protected wells, boreholes, and rainwater catchment systems. She urged stakeholders to regularly inspect and maintain water sources to ensure they remain functional.
Furthermore, Madam Anzagira stated that Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies must prioritize education and WASH in their medium-term development plans, with meaningful participation from children and the school community to ensure a sense of ownership. She stressed the importance of incorporating gender-sensitive and inclusive design principles in every new school infrastructure project to facilitate accessibility for all children.
Additionally, she highlighted the need for Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and School Management Committees (SMCs) to be properly trained, resourced, and empowered to monitor school infrastructure and report any gaps. The survey also revealed that while three per cent of schools have access to water, the condition is poor, and ten per cent of respondents reported that their water sources were adequate.
