Date posted: 8th Sept 2011
Businesses in the water sector in Ghana have established a strategic water partnership initiative to forge a closer working relationship between various stakeholders. This is to allow for the building of synergies among the partners. The decision was taken at a Business Roundtable organized as part of the 3rd Ghana Water Forum.
The partnership will not be only among the private and public sectors but also among the private sector itself. The Association of Ghana Industries will coordinate the initiative.
The membership of the initiative include Coca Cola Company Limited, National Insurance Commission, Private Utility Service Providers Association (PRUSPA) , companies with specific interest in water; sector agencies -Ghana Water Company Limited , Water Resources Commission ,Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission and Triple-S Project Ghana .
The Business Roundtable was organised under the umbrella of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to deliberate on the contribution of Corporate Ghana towards sustainable water and sanitation service delivery in Ghana. The roundtable sought to bring out business opportunities for Ghanaian businesses in the water and sanitation sub-sector especially in urban and peri-urban areas.
The participants drawn from the business community and sector agencies participated in discussions on how to promote private sector innovation in urban water and sanitation service delivery.
The participants called for a definition of the role of the private sector in urban water management in the production, transmission and distribution in the water sector. They argue that a clear delineation of the roles will create room for the private sector to support urban water service delivery.
Making a joint presentation by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency, the Country Team Leader of Triple-S, Mrs. Vida Duti observed government has an unavoidable role to lead the sector in the provision of sustainable water services but it will require the active support of national and international partners and financiers.
On his part, the Director of Technical Services, Mr. Emmanuel Gaze, Country Team Leader of Triple-S Ghana, said there are opportunities for strategic partnership for providing sustainable water services for the private sector. He said the private sector can participate in the operation and maintenance; Water supply chain; innovative options for post construction financing, for example insurance of water facilities and water supply management (BOT, CPPP, PPP).
There was also a presentation by the Safe Water for Africa project led by Coca Cola Africa Foundation, Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited and Water Health International.
By Lamisi Dabire
