Accra: Mr Seidu Issifu, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Office of the President, emphasized that climate change is an immediate threat, profoundly impacting livelihoods and exerting significant pressure on Ghana's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. He highlighted that the escalating climate crisis is exacerbating health issues, with poor water and sanitation responsible for most preventable diseases in the country, thereby making climate-informed WASH planning essential for protecting lives.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister was speaking at the WASH4Climate Summit in Accra, themed 'Strengthening WASH Resilience through Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and Local Adaptation Planning.' The summit, organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Sustainability in collaboration with WaterAid Ghana, aimed to engage and disseminate the findings of the Climate Change Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (CVRA) to selected Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The CVRA was conducted in five districts in the Upper West Region: Bongo, Kassena-Nankana Municipal, Kassena-Nankana West, Nabdam, and Bawku West Districts. Mr Issifu stressed the urgency for stakeholders to enhance the resilience of WASH systems and ensure climate adaptation strategies are grounded in local realities and evidence. He cited research indicating that poor sanitation and water quality account for about 70 percent of all diseases in Ghana, with diarrhoea causing 25 percent of deaths among children under five and approximately 1,000 annual under-five deaths attributed to polluted water sources.
The Minister announced plans to establish a Climate Change and Sustainability Hub to coordinate research, policy, and innovation, ensuring initiatives like WASH4Climate inform national planning and global advocacy. Additionally, the Ministry aims to institutionalize Climate Change and Sustainability Units across every Ministry, Department, Agency, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDAs) to integrate climate action into all sectors.
Mr Richard Ntibrey, Programmes Manager for WASH and Climate Change at WaterAid Ghana, noted that findings from the five districts revealed that prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall are reducing water availability from rivers, boreholes, and wells. Dry spells lasting five to six months are worsening water scarcity, while rising temperatures increase evaporation and decrease groundwater recharge. He highlighted that 70 percent of households rely on unimproved sanitation facilities, making them highly vulnerable during climate-related events.
Based on the research findings, Mr Ntibrey advocated for improved water resource management through rainwater harvesting, water storage systems, groundwater recharge, and efficient irrigation. He also emphasized the need to develop climate-resilient water supply systems, replace aging facilities, construct flood-protected sanitation units, and enhance water quality. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of prioritizing disaster preparedness, including early warning systems for floods and droughts, disaster risk reduction plans, and stronger flood control measures.
